Abstract Submission Guideline

Read all of the following guidelines before abstract submission.
The pre-submission agreement is required before abstract submission.

Important Dates:

• September 12, 2008 - Deadline for Submitting Abstracts. No late submissions will be accepted.
• September 22, 2008 - Poster Presenters will be notified.
• October 17, 2008- Updated/Revised Abstracts must be received.
• Poster Presenters: Make Posters 4'X6' and have 8.5"X11" (letter) sized copies of your posters available to distribute. The presenters are requested to be at their Posters during the Breaks Monday December 15th, and Tuesday December 16th to discuss their findings.

INTRODUCTION

This is the second year that SOMA has provided the opportunity to present abstracts, posters at SOMA. There will be poster 10 spaces available for posters presentation. The abstracts will be blinded to the review committee. The committee exercises some discretion in final paper selection. SOMA Reserves the right to withdraw an Abstract at any time.

ABSTRACT CONTENT

Abstracts must adequately describe the objectives and results of the work so that the quality, originality, and thoroughness can be evaluated by the Board.

Each abstract MUST be less than 650 words and include the following components:

• Title of Abstract
• Author's Name- Include rank and/or credentials
• Institution (Ex: University or Duty Base with City and State)
• Co-Author's Name- Include rank and/or credentials
• Objectives - An introductory sentence indicating the purpose of the study
• Methods - A brief description of pertinent experimental procedures
• Results - A summary of the NEW, UNPUBLISHED DATA
• Conclusion - A statement of the conclusions

Abstracts missing any of the above items (with the exception of Co-Authors) WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
Graphs Pictures, etc. are not permitted. Abstracts must be copied and pasted into the web form.

CRITERIA TO CONSIDER WHEN SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

Within the character count abstracts should:

• Use title and key words appropriately
• Indicate any potential conflict(s) of interest
• Represent original research
• Represent a significant issue
• Be well organized and include Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
• Include an Objective that:
• Is simple and clear
• Clarifies the importance of the study
• Include a Method that:
• Is reproducible
• Avoids irrelevant data
• Describes sample with sufficient detail so that it is clear what population(s) the sample represents
• Describes how the sample is of adequate size
• Describes how sample was formed to avoid biases
• Describes pre-tested unambiguous instruments and materials, including all surveys, tests, questionnaires, interview forms, and other tools used to provide data
• Includes controls and clarifies them, with evidence of reliability and validity
• Includes well-defined criteria for evaluation of variables.
• Describes procedures, whether or not the study is prospective randomized, and researcher activities
• Include Results that:
• Summarize, including techniques and analysis used, including appropriate power analysis
• Include complications or missing data, if applicable
• Include validated outcomes
• Include a Conclusion that:
• Follows from methods
• Includes discussion of limitations, if applicable
• Recognizes limitations of study and suggests new research needed to extend current findings

ACCEPTED ABSTRACTS

Abstracts previously published as papers are NOT ELIGIBLE for presentation. Preference will be given to those abstracts that have not been accepted or presented at other meetings.

Each abstract may only be submitted once. Duplicate abstracts will not be considered. All abstracts accepted for Poster Presentations can send an updated/revised Abstract, for the Program Book, by October 17, 2008. If an updated/revised Abstract is not submitted, the original Abstracts (received before September 12, 2008) will be printed in the Program Book.

PRE-SUBMISSION AGREEMENT

All authors must agree to the following statements before this abstract can be submitted. You must read through and click the "ACCEPT" button in order to submit an abstract.

We, the listed authors on this abstract, submit this abstract for presentation consideration to SOMA. We affirm that the information contained in this abstract fairly and accurately represents original work.

We assume full responsibility for securing the necessary clearance and permission for publication and presentation from any contracting supervisory research agency holding presentation material copyrights.

We agree that any and all financial interests in the product or process involved with our research will be properly identified. This includes stock ownership, membership on an advisory board or board of directors, corporate sponsored research, or any other substantive relationship. Please note that financial disclosure does not disqualify an abstract from consideration or presentation.

We agree that disclosure will be made if a presentation includes substances or products not approved in the U.S. for the use under discussion.