Is a journal club effective for teaching critical appraisal skills? A controlled trial with residents in psychiatry

This study examined the effectiveness of a journal club for teaching critic al appraisal skills to residents in psychiatry ann their transfer of those skills to clinical scenarios. Twelve residents participated in a 12-week jo urnal club, and 12 residents were matched control subjects. Following the j ournal club, there remained no difference in performance between the two gr oups, although two-thirds of the journal club residents din show an improve ment or no change, compared with one-third of the control residents. Furthe rmore, there was a trend for the journal club residents to require less tim e to review an article. This format of a journal club may not be an effecti ve method for teaching critical appraisal skills to residents in psychiatry .