Factors associated with converting scientific abstracts to published manuscripts.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with the conversion of scientific abstracts to publications in peer-reviewed journals.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of abstracts presented by members of the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery between 2000 and 2010. Predictor variables were categorized as abstract- or author-specific. The outcome variable was conversion of an abstract presented at a meeting to a published manuscript. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple regression statistics were computed. P < 0.05 was significant.


RESULTS
The sample was composed of 122 abstracts presented at meetings. Ninety abstracts (73.8%) were published in a peer-reviewed literature within 5 years of presentation. The mean time between presentation to publication was 21.9 ± 17.3 months (median, 19.0 months; range, 0-99 months). In bivariate analyses, study design, number of prior publications by the presenting author, and number of prior publications by the senior author were associated with time to publication (P < 0.06). In a multiple Cox proportional hazards model, higher levels of evidence (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.3; P = 0.006) and volume of prior publications by the senior author (hazard ratio, 1.007; 95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.011; P < 0.001) were associated with shorter publication times.


CONCLUSIONS
Time to publication of scientific abstracts is associated with study quality, prior research experience by the presenting author, and senior author identity and experience.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. LKaban@partners.org
Ryan J
RJ
Smart
Srinivas M
SM
Susarla
Leonard B
LB
Kaban
Thomas B
TB
Dodson
D000043:Abstracting and Indexing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008404:Massachusetts; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D013997:Time Factors