CORE
TRAINING
How to prepare for and present at a journal club
Introduction
Presenting a paper at a journal lub can be
a daunting prospect for a trainee and one
for which undergraduate medical education
‘may leave the tainee feeling under-pre-
pared. However, the ability wo citcally
appraise and present an academic paper is @
‘competency required ofthe trainee doctor.
‘This article discusses the benefits of
attending a journal club and considers the
charactetisties common to successful jour-
nal clubs. It reviews the impact of new
technology on the format of journal cubs
and suggests a framework for preparing
presentations
Historical background
The first mention of a journal club is
found in the 1835-54 memoirs of British
surgeon Sir James Paget. He reported that
“selfclect ofthe pupils, making themselves
into a kind of club, had a small room over
a baker’ shop near the Hospital-gate where
wwe could sit and read the journals, Sir
William Osler is widely credited as estab-
lishing the fist organized journal club at
McGill Univesity in 1875 (Linzer, 1987).
In 1966, Professor Mattingly of Exeter
University wrote one of the first articles
about journal clubs as an: ‘introduction to
the systematic use of medica literature for
junior staff, and ‘a convenient method of
surveying the medical literature’ for senior
staff (Mattingly, 1966). Since then journal
clubs ave been widely used to keep abreast
of the currene literature,
In the 1990s the concept of evidence-
based medicine was introduced, defined as
‘athe conscientious, explicit, and judi-
cious use of current best evidence in mak-
ing decisions about the care of individual
Dr PFD Bowles is Core Surgical Tiaiee,
Mr K Marenah is Special Reis in
Onhapaedie Surgery, Me DM Ricketts i
Consultant Onhopacdic Surgeon and
Mr BA Rogers i Conzulsant Orthopaedic
“Surgeon ithe Department of Troma and
Orthopaedics, Brighton and Susex University
Hospital, Brighton BN2 SBE
Cornspondence to: Dr PED Bowles
(philippe bowernbsnet)
patients’ (Sackett etal, 1996). The skill of
critical appraisal and the ability to use the
‘eurtent evidence base in medical practice
has evolved, with journal clubs being inte-
gral co his process.
Why attend journal clubs?
Journal clubs link research co clinieal prac~
tice by encouraging extical review of the
current medica literature and act as a vehi-
cle for the application of evidence-based
‘medicine through continuing medical edu
cation (Ess, 2007; Leung eval, 2013).
Journal clubs aso allow academic debace
and networking between colleagues of
varying seniority (Esisi, 2007), Regular
reetings to discuss and appraise the medli-
cal literature help cainees to develop their
cticical appraisal skils. These skills are
increasingly seen a a requirement for spe-
dialise hospital doctors and che ability co
demonserate them is assessed at specialty
‘taining (ST3) interviews (Picard et al,
2010; Leung etal, 2013).
By honing critical appraisal skills, com:
petenceis developed and publications may
follow in the form of ‘leters to the editor
ot papers developing research ideas stimu-
lated by the articles reviewed (Table ).
Charare istics of successful
journal clubs
Successful journal clubs have generally mec
for more than 2years with good participa-
tion (Sidoroy, 1995). There are many difer-
CCRC cs
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itl apo skis ae developed
Portcpants heep abreast of cent me
s i
fendral ‘and evidence-based proce are
The ows of comining oll ten met
Infervew skilae developed
‘Academic debate is stmt
ae
rig ik oe
cent ways that meetings are structured but
common characteristics are_as_ follows
(Sidorov, 1995; Aluire, 1998; Deenadayalan
val, 2008; Millichap and Goldstein, 2011):
1. They ate held a¢ regular intervals (eg.
monthly)
2. They are held at a set time convenient
for the members
3. Attendance is compulsory and an
attendance register is held
4, The attending clinicians share common