A pilot investigation of a Pediatric Surgery Journal Club

The CanMEDS competency "scholar" encompasses the creation, dissemination, application, and translation of medical knowledge. We hypothesize that a structured journal club (JC) for pediatric surgical trainees would meet these objectives in an enjoyable and long-lasting manner.

A JC involving two pediatric surgery training programs was created with each session focusing on a specific study design. Pre-tests/post-tests were administered before/after each session with durability of learning assessed during the following session. Metrics analyzed included participant satisfaction and an appraisal of evidence-based medicine (EBM) principals. Test results were analyzed using the paired T-test with p<0.05 considered significant.

On average, 14 participants attended each session, with all trainees present (4). While participants believed they understood EBM principles, 40% were unfamiliar with question formulation, 48% were unfamiliar with critical appraisal tools, and 60% had not appraised an article within the previous year. Pre-test to post-test comparison yielded an improvement in mean score (20=perfect score): 10.8 to 16.9, p<0.01. Measures of participant satisfaction were uniformly positive.

A structured Pediatric Surgery Journal Club addresses scholarly training objectives in a highly satisfactory manner and yields durable learning. A web-based curriculum based on this model could serve as an important educational tool for trainees and attending staff alike.