Journal Club What's it all about?

1. Iain Moppett September 2007 Journal ClubWhat's it all about?

2. Journal Club: what's it all about • Why do we have journal club? • Getting the most out of presenting • Getting the most out of listening

3. Why do we have journal club? • Free lunch • Painless CPD • Scintillating repartee with the rep • Learn something • Requirement for trainees • Academic sparring

4. Why do we have journal club? • Learning opportunities: presenter • Trainee presentation skills • Hostile / indifferent / friendly audience • Paper critique • Problems with research • Learning opportunities: audience • Review of unread papers • Learn about new fields • Constructive criticism of paper and presenter

5. Getting the most out of presenting • What are your aims? • Understand the paper • Present the salient points • Critique the paper • Get the audience hooked

6. Getting the most out of presenting • Understand the paper • Read it! • Read around the subject • Use the references • Editorials? • Read it again • Discuss it with supervising consultant

7. Getting the most out of presenting • Presenting the salient points • Background • Methods • Results • Authors interpretation of results

8. Getting the most out of presenting • Presenting the salient points ... things to avoid • Long quotes from the paper • Straight reproduction of big tables • 'I don't understand the statistics but this is what they used...'

9. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • Plenty of advice / guidance available • Most authoritative probably CONSORT • www.consort-statement.org • Critique does not mean • Dishing the paper • Unqualified support of the paper

10. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • (Abstract and title)‏ • Do they accurately reflect the paper contents? • Background • Does it reflect current understanding? • Is the study worth doing in the first place?

11. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • Methods • Randomization and blinding • Right intervention • Right subjects • Right time • Right dose • Right data

12. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • Statistics • Not expected to be a statistician • But: 'I don't really understand...' not good enough • Think about what they were trying to do • Look up the tests (internet, books) • Ask your supervisor • Seek advice from people who may know more • Nathanson, Norris, Research Fellows, Aitkenhead, Hardman, Moppett

13. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • Results • Have they reported the results appropriately • Papers inevitably leave stuff out • Do the text and tables match up

14. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • Discussion • Are the conclusions supported by the results? • Have the authors highlighted limitations of the study? • How does the study fit into the wider literature • Remember • No study is perfect • Most authors are honest • You didn't do the study

15. Getting the most out of presenting • Critique the paper • How would you take the research forward? • Be practical • What conclusions would you draw from the paper • 'It's a load of rubbish' – not good • 'I've told Dr Reid to buy the kit straightaway' – not good

16. Getting the most out of presenting • Getting the audience hooked • Treat them with respect • 'Presence' • Highlight the relevance early on • Question plant • Take your questions to the audience • 'Dr Luxton, how does this relate to your clinical experience?' • 'Dr Bennett, should trainees change their practice?'

17. Getting the most out of listening • Best sandwiches snaffled by those with short lists • Treat the presenter with respect • Listen • Stay for the whole session • Read / skim the paper

18. Getting the most out of listening • Avoid the temptation to just dish the paper • Ask sensible questions • CONSORT approach • Be prepared to challenge • Academics may be wrong or deliberately provocative • Including professors