Emergency medicine journal clubs.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the status of journal club within emergency medicine (EM) residency programs and to describe 3 currently used formats.


METHODS
The directors of U.S. Residency Review Committee for Emergency Medicine (RRC-EM)-approved residency programs were surveyed to determine the features of their programs' journal clubs. Responses to 3 questions assessing the degree of satisfaction (5-item scales from very good to very poor) with the "current format," "resident participation," and "faculty participation" from the survey were grouped according to the program director's impressions of resident and faculty "enjoyment" (2 3-item scales) and whether the journal club is a "success" (3-item scale) to develop an overall satisfaction index. Three journal club formats currently in use at EM residencies are described in detail.


RESULTS
Of the 101 directors surveyed, 91 (90%) responded. The respondents' overall satisfaction index was highest when the journal club was held in the evening (p < 0.008) or at a faculty member's home (p < 0.0004). The format of the journal club (e.g., by topic, with a statistical focus, with a research design, focus, or as a clinical practice update) was not associated with the overall satisfaction index.


CONCLUSIONS
Journal clubs associated with EM residencies vary in format and perceived success. The 3 representative journal clubs illustrate different format options.
Jouriles
N J
NJ
Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109-1998, USA. njouriles@metrohealth.org
Cordell
W H
WH
Martin
D R
DR
Wolfe
R
R
Emerman
C L
CL
Avery
A
A
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States