How to present a journal club?

Contents

Introduction

Definition of journal

Need of the journal club

Evolution of journal

Definition of journal club

Aim and goal of journal club

Contents contd….

Types of journal club

How to start a journal club

Impact of journal club

Evaluation of journal club

Conclusion

References

Introduction

Medical literature is continually

expanding

Concepts, ideas, beliefs are undergoing rapid

transformation.

Imperative on the part of academicians,

practitioners, students and the researchers to keep

up with the vast amount of information available.

Introduction contd…

The journal club provides a forum to remain

current with the literature and also offers an

opportunity to learn methods of critically

evaluating journal articles.

Journal clubs are usually organized

around a defined subject in basic or

applied research.

Definition of journal

It is a periodical , aimed at a particular discipline.

Different from a magazine

Why do we need to read journals?

To impress

To keep abreast

of professional

news

To understand

patho-biology

Handling of a

problem

Whether to use a

new or existing

diagnostic test

Learn clinical features and

cause

To distinguish useful from

harmful

Need of health care, quality

and cost effectiveness

To be titillated by letters to the editors

Different types of scientific writing

Original article

Case report

Review article

Editorial

Letters to the editor

Key dates in evolution of scientific publishing

1665 – first scientific journal

1820’s – first specialist journal

1870’s – references began to be collected at the end

of the articles.

1920’s – first summaries appeared in the end of the

article.

1930’s – first paper on the use of statistics

1950’s – widespread use of IMRAD format

Key dates in evolution of scientific publishing contd…

1960’s- summaries at the end became abstract

1970’s – database introduced

1980’s – first international conference on peer-

review.

1990’s – introduction of electronic journal.

Classification of scientific papers

Data driven papers

Tutorial papers

Method mongering papers

Consciousness raising papers.

Theoretical papers.

Review papers.

Demonstration of concept papers.

Definition of journal club

A journal club is a group of individual who meet

regularly to critically read, understand and evaluate

recent articles published in medical or dental

literature.

Historical background of journal club

Journal clubs have been used as a teaching or

learning format in academic medicine for over a

hundred years.

The earliest reference to a journal club is found in

a book of memoirs and letters by the late Sir James

Paget, a British surgeon.

Historical background of journal club contd…

He describes a group at St. Bartholomew’s

hospital in London 1835-1854 AD.

Sir William Osler is often recognized as the

founder of journal clubs in North America in

McGill University in 1875 AD.

Aim of Journal club

Till 1980’s it was to provide its member with up-to

date medical literature but quite recently it has

become a forum for teaching and learning critical

appraisal techniques and a method to promote

evidence-based medical practice.

Common journal club goals

1. Providing participation with an update of medical

or dental literature.

2. Teaching and learning the technique of critical

appraisal of available literature.

3. Promoting the importance of valid research

findings into regular practice at individual

or community level.

Benefits

Learning presentation skill

Feedback to the presenter.

Better performance.

Responsibility

Timetable and location

Preparation

Encourage the presenter to plan ahead.

Confirmed presentation.

Papers should be handed out to participant to read

in advance.

Presentation

Chalk and talk

Overhead projector

Power point

Delivery

Types of journal clubs

1. Journal clubs aimed at updating knowledge related to a

field of interest.

2.Journal club aimed at updating clinical practice.

3. Journal club which aim at teaching and learning critical

appraisal techniques with evidence based medicine and

dentistry.

a) critical appraisal Journal club

b) evidence based Journal club

4. Problem based journal club- centered on a problem.

- format

5. Alternative journal club- video, book, review and

storytelling

6. Innovative journal club-

a) relating the learning task to immediate work

experience

b) use of problem solving

c) use of multiple teaching format

d) use of frequent constructive format.

How to start a journal club?

1. Select a director

2. Define the goals

3. Optimize attendance

4. Generate participant interest

5. Special preparation for journal club with critical

appraisal techniques.

Guidelines

Introduction

Short review

Presenting and evaluating the data from the research

article

Briefly outline the experimental design for the paper.

By using the key figures from the paper, how the

data support the conclusion

Conclusion

Journal club should include

TitleAuthor and place of workIntroductionMaterialMethodsResultsDiscussionWhat questions to ask?General rules.

Journal club format

Articles are selected by director and proposed by

student earlier.

Approval 2-3 weeks before.

A specific participant is assigned the task of

presenting the article.

Student should confidently present the content,

evaluation report with his/her own opinion and

defend with proper reasoning.

Journal club session

Journal club session

Round table conference

Horse shoe shaped

Journal club session contd…1. Horse shoe or round table

2. Presenter initiates and lead the discussion

3. Moderator solicit the comments from participating

to stimulate discussion when they are not

forthcoming.

4. Director should direct the session and break

impasse when confronted by one

5. An attempt should be made by the members to

reach consensus especially in the wake of divergent

opinions.

Do’s and don’ts

OrganizerPresenter

•Timetable•Snacks•Supportive senior clinician

•Things for last minute•Choose clinically relevant papers•Summary in own words•Don’t run over the allocated time

Select articles which have different study designs

Creating a controversy

Meticulous analysis of a single article

Problem based learning

Why journal club

Journal clubs are valued as a means

of keeping abreast with the literature.

Journal club offers a forum for teaching and learning

critical appraisal techniques.

Impact of journal club

Improves reading habits by enabling critical

thinking, meta-questioning, meta-thinking etc.

It expands the body of knowledge within a person.

It facilitates acquisition of new skills.

It induces scientific temperament by promoting

questioning attitude.

Impact of journal club contd…

Make the members to be more skeptical of the

authors conclusion.

It improves knowledge of clinical epidemiology and

biostatistics.

Evaluation of journal club

In order to keep the journal club stimulating to its

audience it will probably have to undergo periodic

refinement.

The best way to decide whether any adjustment are

necessary is to ask the participant whether they are

satisfied with the conference.

Conclusion

References

Nagesh L. a hand book on journal club and critical

evaluation.1st edition Davangere: kavitha printers and

book binding works.

Daniel RS. Techniques in medical education.BMJ

2002;325:137.

Valentini RP. The journal club. Technique in medical

education 96; 16:5-10.