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436 COMMENTARY Organising a journal club International research and collabora- Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pgmj.2004.022657 on 5 August 2004. Downloaded from ....................................................................................... tions are becoming more numerous, linking developed and developing coun- Organising an English journal club in tries in more firm relationships. Providing time for foreign researchers the developing world to practise oral English in the context of science and their professional niche builds capacity for future international J Tucker, X Gao, S Wang, Q Chen, Y Yin, X Chen cooperative projects. Since English is the ................................................................................... chief language used at international scientific meetings, gaining oral and English language journal clubs are fundamental for teaching and listening skills at a journal club could collaboration in developing areas help to improve the quality of such presentations. In addition, since ethics and research guidelines for human he medical journal club remains at currently have English speaking journal subjects are not routinely a part of many the heart of evidence based medi- clubs. developing nations’ medical training Tcine among teaching institutions. Although there are barriers to creat- systems, the journal club introduces a Previous reviews have analysed the ing English journal clubs in nations venue for discussing these important importance of journal clubs in English where English is the second language, issues. If ethics and informed consent speaking nations.1–3 A meta-analysis the benefits of establishing such mental procedure are only mentioned in the of postgraduate journal clubs using exercises are considerable. Beyond the context of imminent research that could Cochrane-like criteria for selection of benefits already discussed, journal bring significant funds and support to a papers established that journal clubs clubs provide a valuable opportunity to developing research centre, frank dis- broaden a postgraduate student’s sense enhance communication skills and cussions are more challenging. If ethics of clinical epidemiology and biostatis- English proficiency within a discipline. are discussed as part of each paper tics, reading habits, and using medical literature in clinical situations.4 Previous analysis in this area has weighed heavily Box 1: Starting an English language journal club where English is on the side of English speaking journal the second language clubs in nations where English fluency is assumed. This commentary explores N All articles chosen must be in English and meet the criteria described the role of the English journal club above. outside of areas where English is the N The presenter should be encouraged to read several articles regarding a mother tongue. Three central questions topic before choosing a single article to share with the group. are discussed: N The presenter should arrange an overview of important terms with native (1)Whydosofewnationswhere language/English translation, providing copies to all members of the English is the second language have journal club at least three days beforehand. Presenters should be English journal clubs? encouraged to email papers if more convenient, or post on a web page. http://pmj.bmj.com/ (2) What are the relative advantages of N All members of the journal club should read the paper in advance and promoting English journal clubs in bring five questions in English. these nations? N During the journal club, the presenter should show a PowerPoint (3) How can you establish an English presentation highlighting important aspects of the study and its design. journal club in your hospital? N Presenters should encourage the involvement of all members of the On a worldwide scale, approximately journal club, and a professor or facilitator should ensure that all on September 20, 2022 by guest. Protected by copyright. 325 million people use English as their participants use their English language skills. mother tongue, and at least twice as N Suggestions from students and participants should be incorporated to many people speak English as a second create a flexible programme. or third language. While English journal clubs are rou- tinely a part of postgraduate medicine culture in developed countries, they are rare in developing world hospitals and Learning points medical training centres. Lack of journal access (print or electronic), lack of time N While English journal clubs are routinely a part of postgraduate medicine or incentives for doctors to participate, andlackofresourcesmakejournalclubs culture in developed countries, they are rare in developing world difficult to start in the developing world. hospitals and medical training centres. Oral English proficiency may also be a N A regular English journal club nurtures a deeper sense of international problem in many areas, since foreign ethical principles alongside enhancing communication skills essential for physicians have few opportunities to multicentre studies and other cooperation. speak English. Journal clubs currently N English language journal clubs are fundamental to increasing language in progress are more likely to be in the proficiency, ethical understanding, and international exchanges in native tongue, and focus more on purely clinical considerations. As a result, few developing areas. institutions in the developing world www.postgradmedj.com COMMENTARY 437 presented and compared to interna- Institute of Mental Health in the Research institutions in the developing Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pgmj.2004.022657 on 5 August 2004. Downloaded from tional standards referenced in the United States. Before 2003, the only world without English journal clubs need Declaration of Helsinki,5 the ethical didactics provided for research students to consider the advantages of starting requirements of international research werelectures from professors, both local such a programme at their hospital or will be more deeply understood. A and international. During 2003, the teaching institution. regular English journal club nurtures a National STD Center started the first Postgrad Med J 2004;80:436–437. deeper sense of international ethical journal club of its kind at the centre, doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2004.022657 principles alongside enhancing commu- focusing on sexually transmitted infec- nication skills essential for multicentre tions and the most current literature. ...................... studies and other cooperation. Articles were selected from the English Authors’ affiliations A case study from the National STD literature based on the following cri- J Tucker, X Gao, S Wang, Q Chen, Y Yin, Center (Chinese Academy of Sciences, teria: (1) medical merit and topic X Chen, National Center for STD Control, Peking Union Medical College) in relevance; (2) work is current; and (3) Nanjing, China Nanjing represents an example from study design. Correspondence to: Dr Joseph Tucker, National the world’s largest developing country. English journal clubs need to be well Center for STD Control, 12 Jiangwangmiao St, Affiliated with the Peking Union organised in order to be well attended. Nanjing, China 210042; Joseph_Tucker@med. Medical College in Beijing, the Insti- The list of suggestions shown in box 1 unc.edu tute coordinates research for masters was compiled by the Chinese National and doctoral students in the fields of STD Center’s weekly journal club in REFERENCES dermatology and sexually transmitted order to help those starting new English 1 GibbonsAJ.Organisingasuccessful journal club. infections. Clinical research is central to journal clubs in nations where English BMJ 2002;325:s137–8. its mission as a teaching institution. The is the second language. 2 Gonzalez LS. Referees make journal clubs fun. library and computer facilities present English language journal clubs are BMJ 2003;326:106. allow access to all major medical jour- fundamental to increasing language pro- 3 Alguire PC. A review of journal clubs in postgraduate medical education. J Gen Intern nals and to texts in dermatology and ficiency, ethical understanding, and Med 1998;13:347–53. sexually transmitted infections. The international exchanges in developing 4 Ebbert JO, Montori VM, Schultz HJ. The journal National STD Center cooperates with areas. Especially in national research cen- club in postgraduate medical education: a systematic review. Med Teach 2001;23:455–61. several international research organisa- tres or institutions with international 5 World Medical Association. Declaration of tions, receiving funds from international grants or foreign support, establishing a Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research agencies including the National Ins- disciplinary English journal club lays the involving human subjects. Available at: http:// www.wma.net/e/policy/pdf/17c.pdf (cited 11 titutes of Health and the National foundation for a sound collaboration. March 2004). http://pmj.bmj.com/ on September 20, 2022 by guest. Protected by copyright. www.postgradmedj.com
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