The effect of a medical journal club on residents' knowledge of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics.
BACKGROUND
We performed a prospective controlled trial of a monthly journal club to determine if it would increase pediatric residents' knowledge of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics.


METHODS
Intervention residents received two didactic sessions before the journal club started. Eight monthly journal club sessions followed. Pediatric residents at another institution served as controls. Intervention and control residents completed a pre- and post-test on clinical epidemiology and biostatistics.


RESULTS
Neither the intervention nor the control group showed a significant change in test scores over the 9-month period.


CONCLUSIONS
A more intensive and more structured approach is needed to effectively teach clinical epidemiology and biostatistics to residents.
Langkamp
D L
DL
Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School.
Pascoe
J M
JM
Nelson
D B
DB
D001699:Biometry; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies