Publication rate of abstracts of papers and posters presented at Medical Library Association annual meetings.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to ascertain the publication rate of abstracts presented at the annual meetings of the Medical Library Association (MLA) for the years of 2002 and 2003. The secondary objectives were to examine possible reasons for non-publication and factors influencing publication. METHODS: A total of 442 abstracts from both meeting years, consisting of presented papers and posters, were examined. The 2 methods used to obtain a publication rate were literature searches and an online questionnaire sent to first authors. The questionnaire also asked abstract authors about reasons for non-publication and other factors that might have influenced their decisions about whether or not to submit the project for publication. RESULTS: The overall publication rate from the survey was 26.5%, and the publication rate found via literature searching was 27.6%. The most common reason given for non-publication was time restrictions. Also notable was the large proportion of abstracts written by librarians working at universities and those having 25 or more years in the library profession. DISCUSSION: Publication rates for abstracts presented at the Medical Library Association meetings for the years studied rank at the low end in comparison with other medical professional associations. Further research into factors affecting publication may reveal ways to increase this rate.

A prospective study of 3 years of outcomes after hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the outcomes of hysterectomy with and without conservation of the ovaries. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively for 3 years from 257 women undergoing hysterectomy (group 1) and 57 women undergoing hysterectomy with oophorectomy (group 2). RESULTS: Pelvic pain, abdominal pain, and depression scores were reduced in the 3 years after hysterectomy. Twenty-one percent of the women in group 1 and 43% in group 2 regretted the loss of fertility 3 years after hysterectomy. Satisfaction with the operation was greater than 90% after 3 years in both groups. New symptoms of pelvic pain were infrequent in groups 1 (3%) and 2 (5%). CONCLUSION: Three years after undergoing hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy, satisfaction is high although some women regret the loss of fertility.

The association of hysterectomy and menopause: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not hysterectomy leads to an earlier onset of the menopause. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Gynaecology service of large urban hospital. POPULATION: Premenopausal women with and without hysterectomy. METHODS: Multivariate survival analysis techniques were used to adjust for differences in initial follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, body mass index, smoking and unilateral oophorectomy between the groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FSH levels were measured for five years following hysterectomy and compared with the comparison group. Menopause was defined as a single FSH measurement of at least 40 IU/L. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-seven women undergoing hysterectomy were compared with 259 women who had not undergone a hysterectomy. Fifty-three women (20.6%) in the hysterectomy group and 19 women (7.3%) in the comparison group reached menopause over the five years of the study. Women in the hysterectomy group with a pre-operative FSH <10 IU/L reached menopause 3.7 years (95% CI 1.5-6.0 years) earlier than women in the comparison group independent of BMI, smoking and unilateral oophorectomy. Twenty-eight women in the hysterectomy group had unilateral oophorectomy and 10 (35.7%) of these women reached menopause over the five years of follow up. Women in the hysterectomy group with unilateral oophorectomy reached menopause 4.4 years (95% CI 0.6, 7.9 years) earlier than women with both ovaries in the hysterectomy group independent of baseline FSH, BMI and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Hysterectomy is associated with an earlier onset of menopause. Hysterectomy with unilateral oophorectomy is associated with an even earlier onset of the menopause in this study.