Tips for writing a good abstract

Writing an abstract for a conference is an essential step in sharing your research or project with a broader audience. Here are some tips to help you write a good abstract.

1. Understand the conference themes

Before you start writing, make sure your abstract aligns with the conference themes. For the ICPCN 4th International Conference we are focussing on celebrating the achievements made in children’s palliative care development and considering how we address the challenges that remain ahead of us. Think about your abstract fits within these themes.
Also think about the type of abstract that you are submitting – we are interested in receiving abstracts about innovative service approaches, evaluation and development, clinical care, young people and family experiences and new research

2. Structure your abstract

A typical abstract is concise and for the ICPCN we ask for a maximum of 300 words, and follows a specific structure, typically:

Title: Choose a clear and descriptive title that summarises your research or project. Make it attention-grabbing but relevant to the content.
Introduction: Start with one or two sentences introducing the problem or question your research addresses. Briefly explain why it’s important or what gap it fills in the current knowledge.
Aims: Clearly state the goals or objectives of your research. What did you set out to discover or achieve?
Methods: Provide a brief overview of the methods or approach you used. If your research or project is ongoing, explain the steps you have taken so far.
Results: Summarise the key findings of your research or project. If your project is ongoing, present any preliminary results or what you expect to find.
Conclusion/Implications: Conclude with a sentence or two on the significance of your findings. How do they contribute to the field, or what potential impact could they have? If your project is ongoing, discuss the potential implications.

3. Keep it concise and focused

Word count: Stick to the word limit. Be clear and to the point.
Avoid jargon: Use simple language that can be understood by a broad audience. Avoid overly technical terms unless absolutely necessary.
Be specific: why it matters. Don’t be vague. Clearly state what your research is about, what you found.

4. Review and edit

Proofread: Check for spelling and grammar errors.
Get feedback: Have a colleague review your abstract to ensure it’s clear and compelling.
Revise as needed: Don’t be afraid to make changes to improve clarity and impact.

5. Submission

Follow guidelines: Ensure your abstract meets all the submission guidelines provided by the conference.
Indicate presentation preference: Specify whether you prefer to present your work as an oral presentation, poster or no preference.