In 2020, the Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME) added visual abstracts to the JGME website for 2 articles per issue. These “baby steps” toward more visual communication were led by Kenneth Warren Foster, former JGME Visual Abstracts Editor, and Deborah Simpson, JGME Deputy Editor. Visual abstracts are visual representations of an article's key findings designed to “engage the reader's visual processing capacity” with reduced cognitive workload.1 Visual abstracts can enhance learning2 and are associated with higher Altmetric scores.3 They are also a practical communication tool for many graduate medical education activities, such as a journal club. Like others, we found that creating visual abstracts takes time, as one must crystallize the key points and then develop a visual frame for optimal communication. However, this effort lessens with practice and mentorship.
As of the June 2022 issue we are launching a new initiative in which authors of accepted research articles—Original Research, Educational Innovation, Brief Report, and Review—are invited to create their own visual abstracts. On the JGME website we provide helpful resources and the metrics necessary for JGME to accept visual abstracts (https://meridian.allenpress.com/jgme/pages/visual_abstract_guidelines); if authors follow these metrics (eg, pixels, citation format, JGME logo placement), the abstract will be reviewed by JGME editors and feedback provided, as relevant. If approved by the editors, the visual abstracts will be promoted by JGME staff and editors via social media and posted on the JGME website. JGME's resources may be useful in designing visual abstracts for other journals as well as for teaching trainees and faculty about using visual media in education. Sample abstract designs, using JGME's format, are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Some key considerations for creating visual abstracts are listed in the Box. There are many other teaching tools, including videos, available to assist authors in designing a high impact visual.4
Box Recommendations for Visual Abstracts
A visual abstract is not a mini-academic poster
Highlight results that are relevant to the public and non-scientists
Be creative, but you have less than 10 seconds to activate a reader's pursuit
Achieve 100 words (or less) and 3 (or fewer) images
This process is subjective so seek peer and/or a design expert's feedback
If necessary, attribute all graphics that you do not generate
Track your social media metrics and engage the world
Depending on author and reader responses, we may expand this initiative in the future to other article categories (eg, On Teaching, Perspectives). We enthusiastically welcome your participation and feedback regarding visual abstracts for JGME!
