Electronic journal clubs for capacity building: A case study in psychiatry as a model for medical disciplines in...

Journal clubs (JCs) teach participants how to critically read and assimilate materials published in journals. Electronic JCs (eJCs) provide a similar platform through internet groups, allowing members to participate in and review JC activities as well as JC archives in their free time.

We describe the operations and the successes of eJCIndia, to our knowledge the first eJC in India in the field of mental health. eJCIndia was started for capacity building in teaching and research competence in the field.

eJC India, with >400 members comprising academic psychiatrists and postgraduate students, is now 3 years old. eJCIndia conducts about a hundred activities a year; there is active participation from the membership. Activities include posting of educational materials of interest to the group; seeking and receiving guidance on academic and practical matters of interest to the group; providing and receiving training on how to review research manuscripts submitted to journals for consideration for publication; learning how to critically review published journal articles for strengths, limitations, and applications; and learning how to design studies, analyze data, and prepare manuscripts for publication. The activities of eJCIndia have resulted in the publication of about 20 articles and in the development of several research collaborations, including one multicenter study.

The eJCIndia model can be replicated across medical disciplines in India and elsewhere. It may be the most efficient means for manpower development and capacity building in academic and research competence, given the inequitable geographical distribution of academic expertise in developing countries.