PUBLICATION RATE OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE LARGEST EVENT ON BREAST CANCER RESEARCH IN LATIN AMERICA

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the publication rate of papers presented at the Brazilian Breast Cancer Symposium (BBCS) and trends associated with publication over that time frame. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study evaluating scientific papers presented at the BBCS between 2012 and 2017. All the abstracts presented at the event within this time frame were recorded. Next, a search for papers was made using online databases (BIREME/ LILACS and MEDLINE/PubMed) and in the curricula of the authors on the Lattes platform. The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software program. Significance level was defined as p<0.05 for the entire statistical analysis. Results: Overall, 543 abstracts of papers presented at the BBCS between 2012 and 2017 were included. Of these, 112 (20.6%) had been published in an indexed journal, mostly in English (67.0%), in journals with an impact factor of 2.0–3.0 (42.1%), and ≥1 year after presentation at the event (75.9%). The factors associated with publication were: study conducted in a public institution (p=0.01), oral or commented poster presentation (p>0.001), and study concerning rehabilitation following breast cancer (p=0.04). The publication rate of papers varied to a minimum extent over the period (p=0.07). Conversely, the impact factor of the publications increased significantly between 2012 and 2017 (p=0.04). Conclusions: The publication rate of papers presented at the BBCS is low and remains consistent over the study period despite academic incentives and substantial awards. Studies conducted in public educational institutions, presented in the form of an oral presentation and addressing rehabilitation after breast cancer, were associated with the highest publication rate.