ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting papers: 1967--1978

Trends in the types of topics of papers presented at the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists' Midyear Clinical Meetings from 1967 to 1978 are reviewed. A total of 1,210 abstracts of papers presented at the 12 meetings were reviewed. Twenty-three subject categories were identified. Papers were subdivided into four different study types--review, case report, report, and study. Topics such as general hospital pharmacy, management and administration, and drug distribution were emphasized more during the early years of the meeting. Papers on role evaluation, adverse drug reactions and drug use review were presented more frequently in the early 1970s. Therapeutics and general clinical pharmacy were topics consistently emphasized. Case reports increased from 0% in 1967, to 2% in 1972, to 6% in 1978. Review papers decreased from 72% in 1967, to 11% in 1972, to 3% in 1978. Studies increased from 4% in 1967, to 28% in 1972, to 43% in 1978. Concentration on increasing the number of studies presented at the meeting will advance hospital pharmacy and thus improve patient care.