Postgraduate journal club as a means of promoting evidence-based obstetrics and gynaecology

We assessed the feasibility of a new educational programme to teach critical appraisal of the medical literature to postgraduate trainees. The new programme used a journal club format where selection of topics and articles was driven by clinical problems arising in day-to-day practice. Papers were appraised critically according to validated guidelines using computer software for appraisal, electronic storage and retrieval. Over the initial 4-month period the journal club produced 17 critically appraised topics, two of which were published in peer-reviewed journals. During the study, trainees' reading time improved from a median of 2.0 hours (range 1-5 hours) to 3.5 hours (range 2-8 hours) (P = 0.026) and their knowledge scores improved from a mean of 50.8 (SD 4.0) to 62.9 (SD 4.3) (P = 0.003). We conclude that a journal club supported by electronic means of critical appraisal and dissemination of appraised information can be used to encourage the practice of evidence-based medicine.