Abstract Submission Guidelines and Form
Human Factors in Practice: Strengthening Culture, Performance, and Safety
Sheffield, 8 October 2026
You are invited to submit a poster presentation form and/or poster for the opportunity to present your research in poster form at AfPP’s Human Factors Symposium on 8th October 2026.
AfPP’s Human Factors Symposium is an essential learning opportunity for perioperative professionals committed to advancing safer surgery and strengthening theatre culture. The programme goes beyond theory, drawing on real-life stories from the operating theatre, practical examples from day‑to‑day practice, and case studies that highlight both successes and near‑misses.
Across the sessions, delegates will explore how leadership behaviours shape psychological safety, how staffing pressures influence decision‑making, where role boundaries can slip, and how new technologies such as robotics change team dynamics. The event also examines the human cost of high‑functioning teams and the hidden patterns that contribute to burnout.
Please submit a poster presentation form and/or poster following the guidelines below, for a chance to showcase your work at the event and to win a £100 Amazon voucher.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all healthcare professionals or student healthcare professionals.
Prize
£100 voucher
All approved forms and/or posters will be contacted to inform they have been selected and to proceed in producing their posters for the conference. The approved posters will be displayed as part of the exhibition viewing and conference breaks. AfPP will also share all posters for digital viewing as part of the electronic resources to all conference participants (with the agreement of the authors).
The winning author will feature a Spotlight article in the IPP e-magazine, including an image of the poster and optional interview video.
How to enter
- Submit your poster presentation via the application form
- All abstract applications must be submitted by 1st September 2026 at 12.00pm. We aim to notify you if you have been selected by 8th September 2026.
- Please follow the guidelines below; failure to follow the guidelines could result in disqualification from the competition.
Submission guidelines
- Poster presentations must be relevant to field of Perioperative Human Factors
- Poster presentations are up to 350-word limit. This does not include references.
What happens next?
- The closing date for entries is 1st September 2026 at 12:00pm.
- A panel will assess all submissions shortly after the closing date. Authors will be notified by 8th September 2026 if they have been invited to display their poster at the AfPP Human Factors Symposium 2026.
The winning poster will be announced at the event. Prizes and certificates will be awarded after the conference.
Poster presentation guidelines (relevant for selected candidates)
If you have been selected to present your poster at AfPP’s Human Factors Symposium 2026, you must follow these guidelines.
- All expenses associated with submission of the poster, conference registration fees, are the responsibility of the presenter.
- Please submit the digital poster in PDF format, either portrait or landscape. Please, clearly label your poster with title, author/s and contact details
- Hardcopy posters must be printed either portrait or landscape in size A1.
- There is no word limit, but posters should contain between one and five images, tables or graphs.
- Posters must include a content structure that progresses through title, authors, organisation introduction, objectives, methods, results, conclusion, acknowledgements and references.
- All posters must be non-commercial in nature and not be used as a marketing opportunity. Non-compliance with this rule will result in the poster being rejected.
- All submitted posters will be made available electronically as a .pdf document for conference participants.
- Selected candidates must email a PDF copy of their poster and a high-resolution headshot image to events@afpp.org.uk by 24th September 2026.
- The selected posters MUST be posted and delivered to the AfPP Team by 24th September 2026, so they can be assembled for display at the conference venue.
- All poster submissions should include your name, email address and the poster tube package clearly labelled with the following address: FAO AfPP Events Team, AfPP, Daisy Ayris House, 42 Freemans Way, Harrogate, HG3 1DH