Skip to Main Content
Texas A & M Libraries Logo
Ask MSL
Medical Sciences Library

Journal Clubs

Presenting

A journal club presentation typically includes the components below, but it should be customized to align with the journal club’s objectives and the participants’ background and knowledge.

  1. Provide the full citation for the article.
  2. Describe your motivation for selecting the article.
    • If the article relates to a clinical case, provide a brief summary of the case.
  3. State the research question and explain its importance/relevance.
    • Clinical research questions should be presented in the PICO format (population, intervention, comparison/control, and outcomes measured).
  4. Describe the methods.
    • Include the study setting, design and methods used for data collection and analysis.
  5. Summarize the results.
    • Present the key findings of the study, incorporating tables, graphs, or charts to help participants understand the findings.
  6. Present your appraisal of the study.
    • Analyze the results, discuss strengths and weaknesses of the study methods and potential sources of bias.
    • A critical appraisal checklist may help you structure the appraisal portion of the presentation.
  7. Discuss the study's implications or application to patient care.
    • This may include areas for future research as well as the applicability of the information to patient care (if relevant).

Slides and Worksheet Templates

Journal club presentations are often enhanced with slides or worksheets. Programs may have templates for you to use. Presentation ideas and templates can also be found through a simple web search. Below are a few examples of presentation templates from different disciplines and health professions.

 

Source: Schwartz MD, Dowell D, Aperi J, Kalet AL. Improving journal club presentations, or, I can present that paper in under 10 minutes. Evid Based Med. 2007;12(3):66-68. doi:10.1136/ebm.12.3.66-a

Participant engagement tools are crucial for journal clubs as they:

  • Help facilitate active participation, which is essential for deep understanding.

  • Encourage participants to contribute leading to a richer discussion and a more comprehensive analysis.

  • Make guided discussions more focused and productive.

  • Provide immediate feedback and insights into participant understanding, allowing for adjustments in real time.

  • Keep the meeting on track and ensure that all key points are covered within the allotted time.

Here are engagement tools that offer a free or limited free version:

Polling and Voting Tools

  • Mentimeter: Allows participants to answer questions and provide feedback in real-time, with results displayed instantly. Great for gauging opinions or understanding before and after discussions.
  • Slido: Provides live polls, Q&A, and quizzes, which can be useful for interactive sessions.
  • Poll Everywhere: A web-based audience response system that can integrate with slideware such as PowerPoint.

 Discussion Platforms

  • Padlet: A digital bulletin board where participants can post comments, questions, and thoughts in a collaborative space.
  • Miro: An online whiteboard tool that can facilitate brainstorming and collaborative note-taking.

Q&A and Feedback Tools

  • Kahoot!: Provides a fun, game-like environment for quizzes and reinforcement of key concepts.
  • SurveyMonkey: Useful for gathering detailed feedback on the journal club's effectiveness and areas for improvement.

Collaborative Tools

  • Google Docs: Enables real-time collaborative note-taking and document sharing, allowing all participants to contribute to the discussion.
  • Notion: A versatile tool for creating shared databases, meeting notes, and task lists.

Using these tools effectively can make medical journal clubs more engaging and productive, enhancing the learning experience for all participants.