Debate as an alternative method for medical literature evaluation

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Medical Literature Evaluation

Background:

• Traditional journal clubs may not fully engage students in literature appraisal.
• There is a need for innovative methods to teach evidence-based practice skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pharmacy students' perceptions of a debate-style journal club.
• To assess the effectiveness of this method in teaching literature evaluation skills during Advance Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE).

Main Methods:

• Students participated in debates on controversial topics or drug comparisons.
• Debates required research using evidence-based medicine and literature appraisal.
• Student perceptions were assessed via Likert Scale surveys post-debate.

Main Results:

• Students reported increased confidence in finding (mean 4.1), comparing (mean 4.2), and retaining (mean 4.4) information.
• Overall student enjoyment and satisfaction were high (mean 4.0).

Conclusions:

• Debate-style journal clubs are a well-liked and effective alternative to traditional journal clubs.
• This approach enhances pharmacy students' literature appraisal skills and engagement.