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A Cost–Benefit Analysis and Method of Creating High‐Quality Posters for a Low Cost
Author(s) -
Karamzadeh Amir M.,
Wong Brian J. F.,
Crumley Roger L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200201000-00004
Subject(s) - phone , computer science , production cost , otorhinolaryngology , cost analysis , total cost , quality (philosophy) , production (economics) , cost–benefit analysis , head and neck , cost estimate , operations management , operations research , medicine , business , engineering , surgery , mechanical engineering , ecology , philosophy , linguistics , accounting , epistemology , biology , economics , macroeconomics , systems engineering
Objective To introduce the results of a cost–benefit analysis comparing an office‐based low‐cost technique for producing research posters versus conventional methods. Study Design Cost–benefit analysis. Methods The average cost for manufacturing a 4′ × 6′ poster using university‐based and commercial reprographic centers (from 10 different institutions and cities) was determined through a phone survey. The total number of posters (1248) presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting from 1995 through 1999 was used to calculate and subsequently compare the total cost of generating posters using conventional versus our low‐cost method. A detailed description of this technique (low‐cost) is also offered. Results The total printing costs for this meeting using the commercial or university‐based services was $294,000 and $268,000 versus approximately $11,000 with our method. Esthetically, our technique is satisfactory and difficult to distinguish from standard methods from the typical poster‐viewing distance. Conclusions Given the current medical economic environment, the cost disparity between conventional and “low‐cost” poster production, the esthetic acceptability of both, and the relative (compared with oral presentations) lack of scientific impact, we propose that the present technique is an extremely pragmatic option for poster production.