Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
With a growing emphasis on the need to use evidence-informed decision making in healthcare, it is important to provide adequate training to healthcare professionals and medical students to use the tools and resources available to them. The Cochrane Students’ Journal Club (CSJC) is an online training portal built by students to address this need. It is built using free online resources and is free to use and open for contributions. The CSJC uses a series of modified case scenarios that prompt the user to a question, the answer to which is in the form of an evidence-informed recommendation. The website leads the users through the process of making the decision in a structured way. Once the recommendation is made, they can compare their recommendation with one framed by the moderators, which they can learn from and debate the reasoning behind it. The cases are framed around a Cochrane systematic review with a more or less clear answer. They are also linked to a series of knowledge-based articles, written at the beginner level, that the user can refer to when they need help.
Current state of the project:
The website is in an open beta-testing phase and we are trying to improve its interface and add additional features based on preliminary feedback from the users.
The feedback suggests that:
- the site uses a good process to teach the nuances of evidence-informed decision making in Medicine;
- the knowledge-based articles convey the point in a very simple and straightforward manner to the beginner.
- the site requires the user to spend at least 10-30 minutes to participate meaningfully, and should be shortened to around five minutes.
- probably quizzes and blogs would add to the range of options to participate and learn.
The next stage:
The next version of the CSJC will include quizzes at varying levels of difficulty. It will also include more resources to aid in starting a real world CSJC in institutions along with webinars with CSJC moderators in order to spark real-time discussion
The CSJC is a unique initiative by students. The resource has a lot of potential in becoming a popular learning resource for students across the world.
With a growing emphasis on the need to use evidence-informed decision making in healthcare, it is important to provide adequate training to healthcare professionals and medical students to use the tools and resources available to them. The Cochrane Students’ Journal Club (CSJC) is an online training portal built by students to address this need. It is built using free online resources and is free to use and open for contributions. The CSJC uses a series of modified case scenarios that prompt the user to a question, the answer to which is in the form of an evidence-informed recommendation. The website leads the users through the process of making the decision in a structured way. Once the recommendation is made, they can compare their recommendation with one framed by the moderators, which they can learn from and debate the reasoning behind it. The cases are framed around a Cochrane systematic review with a more or less clear answer. They are also linked to a series of knowledge-based articles, written at the beginner level, that the user can refer to when they need help.
Current state of the project:
The website is in an open beta-testing phase and we are trying to improve its interface and add additional features based on preliminary feedback from the users.
The feedback suggests that:
- the site uses a good process to teach the nuances of evidence-informed decision making in Medicine;
- the knowledge-based articles convey the point in a very simple and straightforward manner to the beginner.
- the site requires the user to spend at least 10-30 minutes to participate meaningfully, and should be shortened to around five minutes.
- probably quizzes and blogs would add to the range of options to participate and learn.
The next stage:
The next version of the CSJC will include quizzes at varying levels of difficulty. It will also include more resources to aid in starting a real world CSJC in institutions along with webinars with CSJC moderators in order to spark real-time discussion
The CSJC is a unique initiative by students. The resource has a lot of potential in becoming a popular learning resource for students across the world.