The journal club in postgraduate medical education: a systematic review

An investigation was made as to whether studies have found journal clubs fo r physicians in training to be effective for improving patient care, teachi ng critical appraisal skills, improving reading habits, increasing knowledg e of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, and increasing the use of med ical literature in clinical practice. A literature search was undertaken us ing 10 databases and retrieval systems and hand searches of journals, confe rence proceedings and personal files. The rigor of studies meeting the incl usion criteria was analyzed using a protocol based on methods established b y the Cochrane Collaboration. One randomized controlled trial found an impr ovement in knowledge of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, reading ha bits, and the use of medical literature in practice, but no improvement in critical appraisal skills. Six less methodologically rigorous studies found possible improvement in critical appraisal skills. It is concluded that jo urnal clubs may improve knowledge of clinical epidemiology and biostatistic s, reading habits, and the use of medical literature in practice. A multice nter, randomized controlled trial of journal clubs is needed to assess whet her journal clubs improve critical appraisal skills.