Author/Authors :
Gokani, Shyam Ajay Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health - University College London (Royal Free Campus) - London, UK , Sharma, Ekta Academic Section of Vascular Surgery - Division of Surgery - Imperial College London - Charing Cross Hospital - London, UK , Sharma, Tanisha Department of Medicine - St George’s University of London - London, UK , Moudhgalya, Shyam Venkatesan Department of Medicine - St George’s University of London - London, UK , Selvendran, Subothini Sara Department of Medicine - Southampton University - Southampton, UK , Aggarwal, Nikhil Department of Medicine - Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry - Queen Mary University of London - London, UK
Abstract :
Critical appraisal is an important skill for clinicians of the future which medical students often have limited opportunities to develop. This study aimed to evaluate whether a national journal club session could improve medical students’ confidence with critical appraisal.
Methods
98 medical students attended a critical appraisal lecture and supervised journal article discussions. Junior doctor mentors supported students to submit discussion points as a letter-to-the-editor. An online cross-sectional survey was administered before and after the conference.
Results
74 students responded, reporting increased confidence with critically appraising research articles (median score 2 vs 4, p<0.01) and increased understanding of why critical appraisal was important to their careers (median score 3 vs 5, p<0.01).
Discussion
This is the first study to demonstrate that a single national journal club session can significantly improve UK medical students’ confidence with the critical appraisal process. These opportunities are valued by medical students.
