An Innovative Journal Club Approach to Enhance the Scientific Skills of Medical Students: A Pilot Evaluation Study

To deliver evidence-based care, medical professionals must be able to critically appraise scientific literature, a skill often underemphasized in traditional medical education.

Supported by the teaching commission of the Medical Faculty of Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, a novel didactic approach was developed, integrating elements of a Journal Club (JC) with e-learning modules, supervised by a mentor. This approach aims to deepen and apply scientific skills acquired in earlier stages of medical education. Final-year medical students independently select, critically evaluate, and present a scientific paper in a JC that is related to a specific patient. Simultaneously, they are required to complete six online modules (including an orientation module) covering the topics evidence-based clinical practice, literature search, Critical Appraisal Skills Program, basic statistical analysis, and effective presentation skills.

In the pilot phase, 25 students and five mentors participated, with 20 students and four mentors completing the evaluation. Students rated the teaching project as relevant (mean 2.4, scale 1 - 4) but expressed mixed views on its suitability for final year (mean 2.5). Self-assessment scores improved across all five learning outcomes, with notable increases in students' confidence to evaluate clinical relevance and study strengths/weaknesses. Digital modules were rated as comprehensible (scores 1.5 - 2.0) and useful for JC preparation (scores 2.1 - 2.6). The overall teaching project received a mean rating of 2.8 (scale 1 - 6), with 58% (n = 19) of students recommending the course. Mentors unanimously rated the project as highly beneficial (100% recommendation rate).

The evaluation of the pilot phase indicates that this teaching project has the potential to significantly enhance students' ability to critically engage with scientific literature. Ongoing refinement based on feedback and planned implementation across all departments aim to promote sustainable scientific literacy in clinical training.