The publication rate and performance of the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) surgical conference abstracts

Objective: Conference abstracts and peer-reviewed publications form the basis for research dissemination. We evaluated the abstract publication rates following their presentation at the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) meetings between 2013 and 2019. Methodology: A systematic search and analysis was conducted in 2021 and 2023. Using abstract titles, keywords, and first and senior authors, AUGIS abstracts were queried on PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Google. Abstract, authors, journal, and time of publication were extracted and analysed. Results: A total of 1220 abstracts were presented over 6 years of conferences, 388 of which were subsequently published. The overall publication rate was 32%, with 47% of oral publications and 29% of posters being published. Oral presentations were significantly more likely than posters to be published (P <.001). Publications spanned 134 journals, with mean and median publication times of 14 and 15 months, respectively. Conclusions: The publication of AUGIS meeting abstracts was comparable to other surgical scientific meetings. These can serve as judging standards for projects worthy of presentations as conferences remain a crucial forum for learning and collaboration. Regardless, authors and review panels should continue to strive for high-quality abstracts to increase the impact of their work and scientific conferences.