Application and impact assessment of an interactive journal club format among endocrinology fellows-in-training in a tertiary hospital academic center: a case study.

Abstract

Background: The interactive journal club is designed to utilize a new approach in appraising research in order to maximize the benefits of the traditional journal club. In this new approach, the participants are actively involved in a structured process of critical data appraisal rather than just being passive listeners. In this case study, we applied the interactive journal club format and assessed its impact among our endocrinology fellows-in-training. Methods: We conducted four interactive journal club sessions within a four-week span, one per each week via a virtual platform. The 12 participants were the same throughout all sessions. Each session was recorded following informed consent. At the end of all sessions, feedback was obtained, tabulated and compared. Results: Sessions lasted from 59 to 83 minutes (mean, 67.75 minutes). Participants became more active and spontaneous as the sessions progressed. All participants found the format more fun and proactive. This approach allowed more critical thinking and processing of information. Salient features include increased self-esteem and confidence, additional learning from other participants, better retention of information, and utilization in future practice. Conclusions: Traditional approaches are transformed from passive presentations of recent developments in medicine into an interactive discussion while allowing the retention of the spirit and essence of a traditional journal club, as well as exploring new and improved approaches in clinical training and education.