Introducing Journal Club Tarek Abulezz Sohag University What
Introducing … Journal Club Tarek Abulezz Sohag University
What is Journal Club? It is a group of individuals who meet regularly to critically evaluate recent articles in the academic literature… § § § Scientific literature Medical literature Philosophy literature
What is Journal Club? • In the Journal Club, there will be questions and discussion points to stimulate brainstorming in which participants can evaluate new research and its applicability to clinical practice.
What is Journal Club? One or two members of the club present a summary of the chosen paper that the whole group has read.
What is Journal Club? Then, the discussion begins. Clarifying questions about different aspects of the experimental design, critique the methods, and a healthy amount of skepticism (or praise) to the results.
What is Journal Club? • The ideas found and discussed at the journal club can help expand balance each scientist’s scope of what is happening in the world of research while informing experimental plans and research directions.
Value of Journal Club • It promotes a better understanding of the research process with improved ability to critically appraise research.
Successful Journal Club • Promoting interest & attendance. • Convenient time and location • Having a session leader to start and facilitate discussion
Goal of Research Critique • To evaluate the merits of a study and its applicability to clinical practice. • It is more than a review or summary of a study and carefully appraises its strengths and limitations.
Goal of Research Critique • It brief, research critique is an objective assessment of a study’s validity and significance.
History The earliest references to a journal club was found in a book of memoirs and letters by the late Sir James Paget, a British surgeon, who describes a group at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London in the mid-19 th century as "a kind of club ……. . a small room over a baker's shop near the Hospitalgate where we could sit and read the journals. "
History Sir William Osler established the first formalized journal club at Mc. Gill University in Montreal in 1875. "for the purchase and distribution of periodicals to which he could not afford to subscribe.
History Tinsley Harrison, the famous creator of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine hosted a journal club at his house … twice a month where one member of the group would present a research paper and the others would criticize it.
Traditional journal club Traditionally, journal clubs have met weekly or monthly to discuss current research in a topic relevant to the field. These are most effective if they have a clearly identified leader and an established purpose.
Online journal clubs • Prominent journals and scientific societies have begun hosting online commenting features that they are referring to as journal clubs.
Online journal clubs • The stated purpose of these is to allow for discussion by online comments on scientific publications. • Authors are able to comment and reply to critiques
NIH …. OITE • If you’re at the NIH, the Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) hosts Summer Journal Clubs that are ideal for trainees just getting their feet wet. • The NIH National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides an online platform to discuss journal articles in our connected world via the Pub. Med Commons Journal Clubs.
Tips for a Good Journal Club
Know the background material • know the research that has preceded and is related to the paper you will be presenting. • This will make your discussion more informed and effective.
Know the background material • Of course, it is impossible to know everything that would relate to your journal club presentation, but even a little bit of background information is helpful.
Make your presentation concise • Every paper has many details about methods, results, discussion, future directions, etc. • It is very helpful to give your audience the general flow of the entire paper and research before adding in all the details.
Simplify unfamiliar concepts • Journal clubs often have members of varying backgrounds. Hence, not all concepts will be familiar to everyone in the group. • It is helpful to give a short summary of techniques and results. Detailed explanations can be provided later on.
Ask yourself questions about the paper before you present • As the presenter, you may be the semi“expert” on the paper, but as you get to know the research, you may discover some questions you have about the methods. • Share with the group the questions you came across yourself and any answers you may have found to address them.
Ask specific questions to the members of the journal club • When entering into discussion time, ask the group for their thoughts on specific topics found in the paper to create a starting point for conversation about the paper. • Questions can be about methods, results, general ideas, and much more!
How to Begin 1. Post and distribute copies of the research article and the journal club discussion questions to interested persons 2. Set up a convenient meeting time and location (eg, monthly)
How to Begin 3. Identify a facilitator for the meeting (initially, this could be a clinical educator, …. then taking turns to lead subsequent journal club Sessions) 4. Hold the journal club (encourage active participation of those attending by using the discussion questions)
How to Begin 5. Evaluate the journal club (gather feedback from participants). Determine how the next journal club meeting could be made more beneficial, eg, more attendance, more than one session, tape-record the session) 6. Schedule the next meeting
Components of the Journal Club Session
Description of the Study § What was the purpose of the research? § Does the problem have significance to clinical practice? § Why is the problem significant? § Identify the research questions, objectives, or hypothesis(es)
Literature Evaluation • Is the literature review sufficient? • Does it include recent literature? • Does the content of the review relate directly to the research problem? • Evaluate the research cited in the literature review and the argument developed to support the need for this study.
Population of the Study • Who were the subjects? • What were the inclusion criteria for participation in the study? • How were subjects recruited? • Are the size and key characteristics of the sample described? • How representative is the sample?
Methods and Design § Describe the study methods § How were the data collected? § Are the data collection instruments clearly described? § Were the instruments appropriate measures of the variables under study?
Methods and Design Describe and evaluate the reliability of the instruments. Will the same results be found with subsequent testing? Describe and evaluate the validity of the instruments. (Validity refers to the ability of the instrument to measure what it proposes to measure. )
Analysis • How were the data analyzed? • Do the selected statistical tests appear appropriate? • Is a rationale provided for the use of selected statistical tests? • Were the results significant?
Results and Discussion • What were the findings of the research? • Are the results presented in a clear and understandable way? • Discuss the interpretations of the study by the authors • Are the interpretations consistent with the results?
Conclusion • Were the conclusions accurate and relevant to the problem the authors identified? • Were the authors’ recommendations appropriate? • Are study limitations addressed?
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