likely to look at posters that have a title that is easy to read and a presentation
that is aesthetically pleasing (Siedlecki, 2017). Creating posters requires more
skill and effort than is usually anticipated, but although it is time consuming,
most nurses find the process to be rewarding (Singh, 2013). Hand (2010)
recommended starting work on a poster about 2 months before presentation.
Many strategies can be used to enhance delivery of the message. No matter
how attractive a poster appears, if attention is not given to content, dissemina-
tion of information is diminished. Siedlecki (2017) found that interest in the
content often determines which posters attendees will view. It is helpful to ask,
“What is it that viewers should know after reading this poster?” Having this
outcome in mind focuses the scope of the content to be presented. The message
should be straightforward, and the text should be written in a common and
meaningful language. Complete sentences are not needed, and content can be
mixed with charts and graphs. Staggering bullets in an outline format is an
effective way to present content and avoid redundancy. Jargon, abbreviations,
and symbols should be avoided unless it is certain that the intended audience
will recognize them. The goal is to be succinct yet to deliver a complete message
(Bindon & Davenport, 2013). It should take viewers no longer than 5 minutes
to read a poster (Hand, 2010).
Specific content to be included on a poster is often outlined in the call for
abstracts. Every poster should have a title and indicate the authors and their
affiliations. It is acceptable to include a logo of the affiliation. Abstracts are not
included on posters unless it is required by the conference guidelines (Kohtz,
Hymer, & Humbles-Pegues, 2017). Most posters also include a purpose state-
ment. Other content is determined by the type of information that is being
presented. See Table 19-1 for a listing of content typically included in posters.
Acknowledgment should be given to organizations that provided funding for
the project. It is also acceptable to acknowledge individuals who provided
assistance for the project.
No matter how well content is articulated in a poster, if the display is not
visually appealing, individuals will not be enticed to read it. Consideration
should be given to the layout, font, color, and graphics. Because effective use
of white space draws attention to poster content, a balance of 20% text, 40%
figures, and 40% white spaces is recommended (Kohtz et al., 2017). A good
resource for making a poster can be found at http://downloads.graphicsland
.com/how-to-make-a-scientific-poster.pdf.
Arranging poster elements in a logical sequence allows the viewer to move
easily from one section to another through the material. Title, author, and affili-
ation are usually centered at the top of the poster. Layout of the poster should
be balanced with content flowing from top to bottom of each section. Typically,
19.2 The 3 Ps of Dissemination 495