1300. Feedback on Abstracts Benefits Both Authors and Reviewers: Results of a Pilot Study at IDWeek 2021


 
 
 Many abstracts are submitted to scientific meetings each year. Scholarly work benefits from peer review, yet specific feedback from abstract reviewers is rarely given to authors. Here reviewers provided feedback to all authors who submitted Medical Education abstracts to IDWeek 2021.
 
 
 
 All IDWeek 2021 abstract reviewers for the Medical Education category were invited to an abstract review instructional webinar and were asked to provide feedback on each assigned abstract in a free text box on the review website. Each submitting author was sent this feedback when informed of their abstract disposition. In October 2021, these authors were sent an email containing a link to a survey soliciting their perspectives on the feedback; the survey included demographic questions and Likert scale questions. Descriptive data analysis was performed. All 10 reviewers participated in one of two virtual, semi-structured focus groups about their experience. Two authors conducted thematic analysis on transcripts.
 
 
 
 Among abstract authors, 18/26 (69%) responded to the survey. All respondents found the feedback helpful. Twelve (67%) incorporated the feedback into their IDWeek presentations. All 14 submitters who plan to write a manuscript intend to incorporate the feedback into that work. Most (94%) would want to receive feedback on future abstract submissions (Figure); all wish other scientific meetings would provide feedback on abstracts. Among reviewers, common themes included that they (1) provided more attentive reviews due to a sense of responsibility to provide thoughtful feedback, (2) found the work rewarding, (3) improved their abstract-reviewing skills, (4) planned to use this experience to help trainees write better abstracts, and (5) felt this activity built community within IDSA. While providing feedback required more time than past reviews, all would volunteer to provide feedback in the future.
 
 
 
 Authors who submitted Medical Education abstracts to IDWeek valued abstract feedback and used it to strengthen their presentations; reviewers found it to be a positive experience and would do it again. IDSA and other societies should consider providing feedback for all abstract categories.
 
 
 
 All Authors: No reported disclosures.
