Slide Makeover: Simplifying Trial Results

Trial results are often the centerpiece of a CME presentation. They establish why a particular treatment option is safer and more effective than the alternatives. The mistake often made, as evidenced by the slide above, is to try to provide a comprehensive account of the trial. But the audience can always look up those details later. What they need now is just a simple answer to the two questions: did it work? And was it safe? A good trial results slide should display those without unnecessary complications. And if there are two studies, why not let each have it's own slide so there's room for it and the audience to breathe. Something like this:

The North Star as always is to consider not only what the audience needs, but even more importantly, what they don't need. And then eliminate, ruthlessly, the latter.