A Qualitative Evaluation of the Scientific Program in IAPSCON 2014-2018

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Medical Education
• Scientific Conferences

Background:

• The Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons Conference (IAPSCON) is a key platform for presenting research.
• Evaluating the scientific content of presentations is crucial for advancing the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diversity and scientific rigor of oral presentations at IAPSCON from 2014 to 2018.
• To identify trends in topics and evidence levels to guide future research and conference content.

Main Methods:

• Oral presentations from IAPSCON (2014-2018) were systematically categorized.
• Categorization included presentation type, clinical subject, content nature, and scientific quality using Oxford levels of evidence.

Main Results:

• Short papers were the most frequent presentation format.
• Urology and hypospadias were the most common clinical topics; clinical and operative management dominated content.
• A significant majority (82.5%) of presentations were Level 4 or 5 evidence, with only 5% at Levels 1-3. Certain areas like anterior abdominal wall defects were underrepresented.
• Minimally invasive surgery, including robotic approaches, comprised 8.4% of presentations.

Conclusions:

• The IAPSCON Scientific Program exhibits a range of topics but highlights opportunities for enhancing scientific quality.
• Future research should consider underrepresented areas and focus on higher levels of clinical evidence.
• This analysis provides insights into research interests and informs future directions in pediatric surgery.