[The poster, an intelligent choice for scientific communication]

The dissemination of knowledge is a fundamental duty in any discipline, and nurses are increasingly required to communicate the results of their clinical or theoretical accomplishments. In recent years, thanks to computerization and other technological advances, poster sessions have become a preferred instrument for communicating scientific information to a large audience. After presenting the advantages of this type of communication, the authors-two nurses and a programmer analyst-deal with the essentials of creating a poster, from choosing a type of poster, its content and its visual design to planning the necessary human and material resources. They then describe the delivery of a poster session and stress the importance of evaluating the experience. Their technical advice on such matters as the choice of materials, colours and illustrations will be a valuable resource for those who are considering a poster session as a vehicle for scientific communication.