Development of a New Algorithm and Scoring Metric for the Evaluation of Scientific Conference Impact

Objective: To develop an algorithm and scoring method for the evaluation of scientific conference impact which is useful and accurate. Challenge/Problem: The use of metrics for the evaluation of impact of scientific publications is well established. Scientific conferences continue to be principle venues for the release of new and important advances in medicine. Unlike journals, there are presently no metrics available for the evaluation and selection of scientific conferences by impact. Based on this need, a new algorithm and ranking score was created for the evaluation of conference impact. Solution: A random therapeutic area, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was selected for the test. A composite algorithm was created using an established journal metric (Eigenfactor) and additional qualitative measures: conference weight (presenter’s journal author score from publications in a field), conference abstract score (conference abstract relevancy, presentation type and age). Two top twenty lists of conferences for MS were generated; one using the new algorithm and the other by traditional conference volume (number of abstracts posted on a specific topic at a specific conference). The top twenty conference lists were compared and assessed for variance using three years of data. Outcome: Four conferences (20%) previously not included in the top twenty volume list moved up in rank. The average change in position was 37% among all 20 conferences (range 0 – 113%) and 13 (65%) out the 20 conferences changed rank. Benefits: The described impact algorithm may provide Medical Affairs Professionals an objective and accurate method for the selection of conferences. Further study and validation is ongoing