Abstract submission

One of the British Geriatrics Society’s primary objectives is to showcase high quality scientific research at its conferences and the BGS wants to present your research.

Original research and clinical quality studies will be considered for presentation as a poster or as a platform presentation. Authors do not need to be BGS members to participate.
 
There are several chances each year to showcase your research at the leading UK conferences in older people’s care.
 
You will need to have a web account to submit your abstract(s). If you don't have one, you will be able to create one during the submission process.
 

The upcoming meetings and submission deadlines are below:

Abstracts submission for hybrid events
The BGS is accepting abstract submissions for the meeting listed in the table below. Assessors will review abstracts online. Posters will be displayed on the BGS website and platform presentations delivered online. The Autumn 2022, Spring 2023 and Autumn 2023 meeting posters will be included in our Age and Ageing supplements. Please submit via our abstracts portal.
 
Upcoming abstract submission dates
Meeting Abstract submission open Abstract closing date

Expected date of results

*Subject to change

Meeting Dates Submission link
2024 South West, South East and North Thames region meeting 23 February 2024 Closes: 5pm 9 May 2024 Week commencing 20 May 2024 6 June 2024 Submit abstracts online
2024 North West and Mersey region meeting 16 February 2024 Closes: 5pm 6 June 2024 Week commencing 17 June 2024  4 July 2024 Submit abstracts online
2024 25th International Conference on Falls and Postural Stability 1 December Closes: 5pm 6 June 2024 Week commencing 1 July 2024 06 September 2024 Submit abstracts online
2024 POPS Meeting (Perioperative Care of Older People Undergoing Surgery) 1 December 2023 Closes 5pm 3 June 2024 Week commencing 1 July 2024 27 September 2024 Submit abstracts online here
2024 Cardiovascular Health of Older People 1 December 2023 Closes 5pm 3 June 2024 Week commencing 1 July 2024 20 September 2024 Submit abstracts online here
2024 East Anglia and Thames Valley region meeting 19 February 2024 Closes 5pm 14 June 2024  Week commencing 24 June 2024 12 July 2024 Submit abstracts online here
2024 Autumn Meeting 1 December 2023 Closes: 5pm 29 July 2024 Week commencing 16 September 2024 20 - 22 November 2024 Submit abstracts online
2024 South West and Wessex Region Meeting 8 March 2024 Closes: 5pm 19 September Week commencing 30 September 2023 17 October 2024 Submit abstracts online
2025 Spring Meeting  26 January 2025 16 February 2024 W/C 10 February 2025 9 - 11 April 2025 Submit abstracts online
2025 Autumn Meeting 1 December 2024 Closes: 5pm 1 August 2025 Week commencing 16 September 2024 12 - 14 November 2025 Submit abstracts online

 

Instructions for the submission of Abstracts to the British Geriatrics Society

Instructions for submitting abstracts

The British Geriatrics Society accepts submissions only through the online submissions facility.

You will need an up-to-date browser to be able to use the on-line submission system. We suggest a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

Date of submission. Abstracts must reach the BGS administrative office by the deadline date indicated in the table above.

Limitation on submissions. Only 3 (THREE) abstracts per investigator as first author are allowed.

Word Count limits: 128 Characters for the Title, 70 words for Authors, 70 words for Provenance. 

Corrections - Make sure that the abstract you submit is correct. DO NOT phone, write or resubmit the same abstract with modifications without contacting us. If you experience anything like this please contact the Abstract Manager on 0207 608 8574 or via abstracts [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk.

Submit each abstract ONCE only and do so by the deadlines specified.

Preparing your abstract for online submission

The maximum word count is 370 words. The total word count for the fields ‘Title, Authors and Provenance’ is up to 70 words. The maximum word count for the field ‘Abstracts Editor’ is 300 words. The online system will not accept anything over this limit. Please note that that wordage will be calculated slightly differently by the on-line system compared to text editors such as Microsoft Word. This is because your abstract needs to fit into a defined space when published in the abstract book.

Submitting your abstract - instructions for electronic submission

Title and Author Details

  • Title (using Title Case)

The maximum word count for these three fields is 128 characters (around 30 words.)

  • Authors (initials then surname, using capitals without any full stops separated by a semi-colon: e.g. J Smith1; P Jones1; T Renwick 2)
  • Provenance (i.e. place of work separated by a semi colon e.g. 1. Southampton University; 2. Dept of Elderly Care, Cardiff University Hospital)
  • The maximum word count for these two fields is 70 words.

Abstract

  • To be submitted in the field ‘Abstracts 
  • The maximum word count for this field is 300 words.
  • Layout - Type the subheading (e.g. Introduction), go down one line, then type the text on the next line. Put a blank line space in between each of the four sections.
  • Tables and charts- are not supported. Please include your findings in your abstract text or email abstracts [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk 
  • Macros.-Do NOT use macros within abstracts, as they may contain viruses. No embedded objects from outside sources are allowed (e.g. graphs, pictures).
  • Content - The abstract must include sufficient information (e.g numerical and statistical data) to allow an evaluation by the Research and Academic Development Committee and Clinical Quality Steering Group and to enable it to stand as a published abstract. Expressions such as “data will be presented” or findings will be discussed” are not acceptable and will result in automatic rejection of the abstract. The onus is on the author to check the spelling, grammar, and format of the abstract
  • References - include any references within the body of the text, in the format, Author names (up to 3), Journal name, year, volume and page. Do not include the title.
  • Abbreviations- must be defined by being placed in parentheses immediately after the full word or phrase has been typed for the first time.
  • Non-proprietary- (generic) names must be used for drugs.
Publication disclaimer and ethics approval

Only click the box ‘Publications Disclaimer’ if you wish your abstract to be published in Age & Ageing. This only applies to BGS Spring and Autumn national conferences.

All authors must indicate whether or not the work carried out has approval from the Local or National Research Ethics Committee (REC). Please note that authors are able to submit abstracts which were not submitted to the LREC, for example, if research deals with completed audits of national relevance or work using public domain databases. If the project was not submitted for LREC approval and the methodology is adjudged by the Academic and Research Committee/CPEC as requiring LREC submission, the abstract will be rejected.

Please select one the following options when clicking on the field ‘Ethics Disclaimer’:

  • “Project not submitted to the LREC;" 
  • “LREC did not wish to undertake review”;
  •  “LREC approved”.

Either type your abstract into the main abstract text field, or copy and paste your abstract from your Word Processed document, into the abstract text field.

 

Once you have completed all the fields, click the accept button to submit the abstract.

Personal details, category and preferred mode of presentation
  • Personal details- should include First and Last Name, e-mail and phone. The fields are mandatory.
  • Category - Select Clinical Quality or Scientific Presentation. A sub-category list will appear and will depend on what you have selected as your main category. Select the most relevant.
  • Profession - whether of consultant, registrar, Nurse or AHP (“non-consultant” grade). Prizes are awarded to the best platform and poster presentation from a person who is not of consultant status (medical or professions allied to medicine) at the time of submission of the abstract.
Distinction between Research and Clinical Quality

Is your project audit or research?

Be clear about your objectives, and concentrate on these 3 key questions:

  1. Is the purpose of your project to try and improve the quality of patient care?
  2. Will the project involve measuring current practice against standards?
  3. Does the project include anything being done to patients beyond their routine clinical management?

If your answers are 'yes' to the first 2 questions and 'no' to the third, your project is very likely to fall within the remit of clinical quality.

The following table gives further details regarding differences between research, audit and surveys

 

Research

Purpose

To provide new knowledge e.g. to set or change clinical standards

Methods

Pre-specified research designs with hypotheses

Data analysis

Requires data analysis (quantitative or qualitative) to make inferences

Ethical approval

Required

Sample size

Statistically powered calculation

Outcome

Improved knowledge

 

Research studies i.e. those that generate new knowledge, rather than evaluate practical implementation, even in the above domains, must be submitted to the scientific section of the meeting.

Presentation

The BGS is developing an online space for accepted abstracts to be shared, where your work can be viewed and navigated easily by as many relevant people as possible. As part of this development, you may also be asked to provide a copy of your poster, or participate in a recorded interview to discuss your project in more detail.

In addition to abstracts being presented in poster format, future meetings will have a platform presentation session for the best Clinical Quality abstracts. This session will have a strong emphasis on sharing initiatives that have the potential to be adopted elsewhere, and discussion centred around implementation.

BGS Clinical Quality abstract submission guide

Please note:

Any abstract submitted under the category of Clinical Quality will be subject to an adjudication process –anything scoring less than 2 out of 5 will be rejected.

You will have the opportunity to receive feedback on successful submissions via the poster platform and at the Conference. Those that are not accepted can contact the abstracts manager via abstracts [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk

Acceptance criteria:

Abstracts may be submitted under the following 5 sub-categories: Clinical Effectiveness, Efficiency and Value for Money, Patient Centredness, Patient Safety, Improved Access to Service

To be accepted abstracts must:

  • Describe a change in care, with a clear aim designed to make improvement to the quality of care.
  • Demonstrate use of quality improvement methodologies with at least one completed PDSA cycle.
  • Describe a fully completed audit cycle where a change has been made and evaluated.
  • Describe the results of your change, whether successful or not.
  • Single loop audits and surveys may very occasionally be accepted if they are on an issue which may generate some interesting learning and discussion.

To be accepted all abstracts must be written up using the Revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence Guidelines (SQUIRE 2.0) which are described below.

Any abstract which does not meet the above criteria will not meet minimum scoring and will be rejected.

Revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence Guidelines (SQUIRE 2.0)

  • Title

Indicate that the abstract concerns a change initiative designed to improve healthcare (broadly defined to include clinical effectiveness, efficiency and value for money, patient centredness, patient safety, improved access to service).

Abstract

  • Provide adequate information to aid in searching and indexing
  • Summarise all key information from various sections of the text using the abstract format of the intended publication or a structured summary such as: background, local problem, methods, interventions, results, conclusions

Category 1

Define the relevant area of your work

  • Clinical Effectiveness
  • Efficiency and value for money
  • Patient centredness
  • Patient safety
  • Improved access to service

Category 2

Define the relevant stage of your work

  1. Innovation – test of a completely new idea
  2. Adaptation – modifying existing good practice from one sector to another
  3. Adoption - spread of known/ existing good practice

Background

  • Describe the care sector, the community or department where your improvement work was done. • Describe the team involved in your work and the patient group or client group that is the focus of your improvement work.

Introduction (Why did you start)

  • Clearly describe the local problem or system issue which you aim to improve.
  • Clearly describe how that problem was affecting the care received by patients and families and how it impacted on those delivering the care.
  • Describe the scale of the problem.
  • Describe your specific improvement goal(s)

Methods (What did you do)

  • Who did you engage in your improvement work
  • How are you going to determine the impact of your improvement work, what are your measures and how are they being recorded
  • What approach are you taking, what are your implementation plans Interventions
  • Describe the changes to practice needed to address the identified problem
  • Clearly describe what you did to make those changes and how you went about it, in sufficient detail so that others could do the same.

Results (What did you find)

  • Describe the impact of your intervention(s).
  • Describe how far this went to solve your problem.
  • Describe the benefits to patient or client group.
  • If this improvement work is still in progress describe what you plan to do next.

Conclusions (What does it mean)

  • Describe your implementation lessons, what worked and what you would do differently next time.
  • Describe the possible impact of these changes if your learning was transferred to others.
  • How are you going to make sure that your local improvement "sticks".
  • Could you offer support to others wanting to do the same thing.

Other information

• If your project required Ethics approval, please state if this has been obtained

Scientific Presentation Instructions

For Scientific Presentation abstracts use the following headings:

  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusions

Put a blank line space in between each of the four sections.

  • Tables and graphs - are not supported. Please include your findings in your abstract text or email abstracts [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk 
  • Content - The abstract must include sufficient information (e.g numerical and statistical data) to allow it’s evaluation by the Research and Academic Development Committee Group and to enable it to stand as a published abstract. Expressions such as “data will be presented” or findings will be discussed” are not acceptable and will result in automatic rejection of the abstract. The onus is on the author to check spelling, grammar and format of the abstract
  • References - include any references within the body of the text, in the format, author names (up to 3), Journal name, year, volume and page. Do not include the title.
  • Abbreviations - must be defined by being placed in parentheses immediately after the full word or phrase has been typed for the first time.
  • Non-proprietary - (generic) names must be used for drugs.
Will I get a certificate for presenting my poster?

No. There will be a stable link on the BGS site to cite your abstract/poster in the future. We also acknowledge to the lead submitting author the acceptance of the abstract, and following the successful presentation of the final poster or platform.

We will not issue certificates of presentation on top of the CPD attendance certificate.

Posters remain accessible in the posters.bgs.org.uk site and abstract books will be available to download.

We have discussed this with our Trainees Council committee and Education and Training Committee and have confirmed that this evidence is sufficient. If there are confirmed instances of this evidence not being accepted, please share with us so that we can demonstrate this and act upon it as require.

I've been accepted to present: what happens next?

Congratulations on being accepted as a poster presenter. If you are successful in your submission you will be emailed full details about submitting your poster to present, registration steps and what to do in and around the conference. You may wish to read this page about preparing your abstract.

All presenters need to register and pay the relevant registration fee. There is no discount for being a poster or platform presenter on registration, however BGS members save at least 40% on the registration fee, as well as being able to apply for a grant to cover attendance - read more here. Membership for medical students, nursing and AHP students (in undergraduate UK courses), preceptorship year Nurse and AHPs and Foundation year doctors pay nothing for membership. You can join online via this link

What prizes are there?

Spring and Autumn National Conferences (3-Day conferences)
There are several cash prizes at the BGS Spring and Autumn national conferences awarded to the best platform and best posters. There are also prizes for work submitted by Nurses and AHPs ( the Eva Huggins Prize of £200.00) GPs in training (£200.00) and Doctoral Researchers ( The Richard Dodds Memorial prize, a framed certificate and the chance to present your work at a subsequent Autumn or Spring  BGS conference in the Research session.)

Special Interest Group conferences
At BGS Special Interest Group conferences there are prizes for the best platform presentation and best poster. The prize is a complimentary registration for a national BGS Spring or Autumn conference (equivalent to £180 - £270). This should be taken up within one year. You will be invited to present your work here in the poster presented elsewhere section:rizes

Devolved Nation Meetings and England Region Local Meetings
At BGS Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England Region meetings there are prizes for the best platform presentation and best poster. The prize is a complimentary registration for a national BGS Spring or Autumn conference (equivalent to £180 - £270). This should be taken up within one year. You will be invited to present your work here in the poster presented elsewhere section.

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Upcoming BGS Events