A study of anesthesia journal clubs, a common feature of medical education, found that successful programs had mandatory attendance, involved residents in the organization and reviewed more articles per session, according to an Anesthesiology News report.
Researchers surveyed directors of anesthesia residency programs about their journal clubs, in which members critically evaluate scientific journal articles. The authors defined a club's success as over 50 percent attendance. Results showed that in addition to mandatory attendance, resident involvement and reviewing more articles, journal clubs that had recently changed format were also well-attended.
The authors suggest encouraging participation in clubs through online checklists and appraisal tools, explicit goal-setting, routine evaluations of a program, mandatory participation and acknowledgment of individual contributions.
Anesthesiology News cites an explanation by Marek Brzezinski, MD, PhD, one of the researchers, of the importance of successful journal clubs: "As we embark on creating the new generation of leaders in anesthesia, we need to better equip the residents with the necessary tools to critically appraise scientific papers, and not expect them to just know it."
Read the Anesthesiology News report on journal clubs in anesthesia residency programs.
Read more coverage on anesthesia:
- Ultrasound Guidance Improves Peripheral Nerve Block Success Rate
- Reducing Tidal Volume in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Could Improve Outcomes
- Colorado Court Upholds Opt-Out From Federal Anesthesia Requirement
Researchers surveyed directors of anesthesia residency programs about their journal clubs, in which members critically evaluate scientific journal articles. The authors defined a club's success as over 50 percent attendance. Results showed that in addition to mandatory attendance, resident involvement and reviewing more articles, journal clubs that had recently changed format were also well-attended.
The authors suggest encouraging participation in clubs through online checklists and appraisal tools, explicit goal-setting, routine evaluations of a program, mandatory participation and acknowledgment of individual contributions.
Anesthesiology News cites an explanation by Marek Brzezinski, MD, PhD, one of the researchers, of the importance of successful journal clubs: "As we embark on creating the new generation of leaders in anesthesia, we need to better equip the residents with the necessary tools to critically appraise scientific papers, and not expect them to just know it."
Read the Anesthesiology News report on journal clubs in anesthesia residency programs.
Read more coverage on anesthesia:
- Ultrasound Guidance Improves Peripheral Nerve Block Success Rate
- Reducing Tidal Volume in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Could Improve Outcomes
- Colorado Court Upholds Opt-Out From Federal Anesthesia Requirement