Comparison of Two Formats of Journal Club for Postgraduate Students at Two Centers in Developing Critical Appraisal Skills

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Comparison of Two Formats of Journal Club for Postgraduate Students at Two Centers in Developing Critical Appraisal Skills
Language: English
Authors: Kaur, Manpreet (ORCID 0000-0003-3650-3825), Sharma, Hanjabam B., Kaur, Simran (ORCID 0000-0001-9091-9480), Sharma, Ratna, Sharma, Renuka, Kapoor, Raj, Deepak, Kishore K.
Source: Advances in Physiology Education. Dec 2020 44(4):592-601.
Availability: American Physiological Society. 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3991. Tel: 301-634-7164; Fax: 301-634-7241; e-mail: webmaster@the-aps.org; Web site: https://www.physiology.org/journal/advances
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2020
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Graduate Students, Medical Students, Medical Education, Objective Tests, Critical Thinking, Scores, Clubs, Journal Writing, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: India
DOI: 10.1152/advan.00111.2019
ISSN: 1043-4046
Abstract: Journal club (JC) is an integral part of postgraduate medical education. Although several innovations have been attempted to improve its effectiveness, the influence of the number of sessions remains unexplored. The current study investigated the effect of the number of sessions (one vs. four) of conduction of journal club on critical appraisal skills of postgraduate students at two institutions. A quasi-experimental study was conducted comparing the effectiveness of JC in a one- versus four-session JC format using two objective tests: Critical Appraisal Skills Test (CAST) and Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) score. The degree of changes (pre-JC vs. post-JC session) after each format exposure, association of prescores to postscores, and correlation between the CAST and PICO scores were discerned. CAST score was higher in the four-session format (P = 0.03), whereas PICO score increased in the single-session format of JC (P = 0.03). Also, the change in CAST score was higher in the four-session versus single-session JC format (P = 0.04). We conclude that a four-session format of JC is more effective in augmenting critical appraisal skills of postgraduate students, whereas a single session is sufficient for improving factual knowledge.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2021
Accession Number: EJ1287622
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Journal club (JC) is an integral part of postgraduate medical education. Although several innovations have been attempted to improve its effectiveness, the influence of the number of sessions remains unexplored. The current study investigated the effect of the number of sessions (one vs. four) of conduction of journal club on critical appraisal skills of postgraduate students at two institutions. A quasi-experimental study was conducted comparing the effectiveness of JC in a one- versus four-session JC format using two objective tests: Critical Appraisal Skills Test (CAST) and Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) score. The degree of changes (pre-JC vs. post-JC session) after each format exposure, association of prescores to postscores, and correlation between the CAST and PICO scores were discerned. CAST score was higher in the four-session format (P = 0.03), whereas PICO score increased in the single-session format of JC (P = 0.03). Also, the change in CAST score was higher in the four-session versus single-session JC format (P = 0.04). We conclude that a four-session format of JC is more effective in augmenting critical appraisal skills of postgraduate students, whereas a single session is sufficient for improving factual knowledge.
ISSN:1043-4046
DOI:10.1152/advan.00111.2019