EMERGENCY-MEDICINE JOURNAL CLUBS

Objective: To ascertain the status of journal club within emergency me dicine (EM) residency programs and to describe 3 currently used format s. Methods: The directors of U.S. Residency Review Committee for Emerg ency Medicine (RRC-EM)-approved residency programs were surveyed to de termine the features of their programs' journal clubs. Responses to 3 questions assessing the degree of satisfaction (5-item scales from ver y good to very poor) with the ''current format,'' ''resident participa tion,'' and ''faculty participation'' from the survey were grouped acc ording to the program director's impressions of resident and faculty ' 'enjoyment'' (2 3-item scales) and whether the journal club is a ''suc cess'' (3-item scale) to develop an overall satisfaction index. Three journal club formats currently in use at EM residencies are described in detail. Results: Of the 101 directors surveyed, 91 (90%) responded. The respondents' overall satisfaction index was highest when the jour nal club was held in the evening (p < 0.008) or at a faculty member's home (p < 0.0004). The format of the journal club (e.g., by topic, wit h a statistical focus, with a research design focus, or as a clinical practice update) was not associated with the overall satisfaction inde x. Conclusion: Journal clubs associated with EM residencies vary in fo rmat and perceived success. The 3 representative journal clubs illustr ate different format options.