Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
The Cochrane UK and Ireland Trainees Advisory Group (CUKI-TAG) was founded in 2016 to improve trainee engagement and involvement with evidence-based medicine (EBM), systematic reviews in general, and in particular with the work of the Cochrane Collaboration. It is chaired by the Cochrane UK Fellow, is supported by Cochrane UK, and membership is open to all UK and Ireland medical and dental trainees. By encouraging membership from a range of medical specialities and geographical regions we aim to foster a relationship with a diverse group who will become the next generation of clinical leaders. The group is accountable to the Director of Cochrane UK. With four years’ experience we have developed a model which could be replicated in other countries to promote trainee engagement with Cochrane internationally.
Objectives:
To describe a successful model for engaging trainees nationally in EBM and the work of the Cochrane Collaboration. To discuss how this can be transferred to other countries to support our international colleagues.
Methods:
Initial recruitment to CUKI-TAG was by advert. Via regular online meetings the committee has organised events at the UK and Ireland Cochrane Symposium and the 2018 Cochrane Colloquium. We host annual trainees’ conference to provide EBM skills to support journal clubs in local hospitals. We have used a variety of online methods to engage trainees including a detailed website of training resources linked to the Cochrane UK website, Evidently Cochrane blogs, Twitter journal clubs, Instagram, podcasts, and videos. Cochrane UK has provided travel expenses for meetings, Cochrane conference scholarships and training events.
Results:
The annual trainees’ conference is well attended and receives excellent feedback. There is demonstrable impact on the involvement of trainees in writing blogs, local journal clubs and online Twitter journal clubs. There is a positive self-reported use of online EBM resources, engagement with the Cochrane community and on personal development.
CUKI-TAG meets regularly online and semi-regularly in person. Recruitment varies- we have had between 2-22 members over the four-year period. We have experienced the highest impact using our website, face to face events, Twitter journal clubs and Evidently Cochrane blogs. Other projects have involved creating videos and podcasts. We have experienced moderate impact with podcasts and videos.
Conclusions:
Our successful model involves recruiting and retaining a national trainees’ committee, hosting an annual trainees’ conference and supporting trainee initiatives. The CUKI-TAG chair links the work of individual committee members to the Cochrane community and EBM resources. Future direction includes promoting speciality-dependant trainee engagement via diversifying and expanding our committee. We would encourage the transfer of this successful model to our international colleagues to engage trainees and inspire the next generation of clinical leaders.
The Cochrane UK and Ireland Trainees Advisory Group (CUKI-TAG) was founded in 2016 to improve trainee engagement and involvement with evidence-based medicine (EBM), systematic reviews in general, and in particular with the work of the Cochrane Collaboration. It is chaired by the Cochrane UK Fellow, is supported by Cochrane UK, and membership is open to all UK and Ireland medical and dental trainees. By encouraging membership from a range of medical specialities and geographical regions we aim to foster a relationship with a diverse group who will become the next generation of clinical leaders. The group is accountable to the Director of Cochrane UK. With four years’ experience we have developed a model which could be replicated in other countries to promote trainee engagement with Cochrane internationally.
Objectives:
To describe a successful model for engaging trainees nationally in EBM and the work of the Cochrane Collaboration. To discuss how this can be transferred to other countries to support our international colleagues.
Methods:
Initial recruitment to CUKI-TAG was by advert. Via regular online meetings the committee has organised events at the UK and Ireland Cochrane Symposium and the 2018 Cochrane Colloquium. We host annual trainees’ conference to provide EBM skills to support journal clubs in local hospitals. We have used a variety of online methods to engage trainees including a detailed website of training resources linked to the Cochrane UK website, Evidently Cochrane blogs, Twitter journal clubs, Instagram, podcasts, and videos. Cochrane UK has provided travel expenses for meetings, Cochrane conference scholarships and training events.
Results:
The annual trainees’ conference is well attended and receives excellent feedback. There is demonstrable impact on the involvement of trainees in writing blogs, local journal clubs and online Twitter journal clubs. There is a positive self-reported use of online EBM resources, engagement with the Cochrane community and on personal development.
CUKI-TAG meets regularly online and semi-regularly in person. Recruitment varies- we have had between 2-22 members over the four-year period. We have experienced the highest impact using our website, face to face events, Twitter journal clubs and Evidently Cochrane blogs. Other projects have involved creating videos and podcasts. We have experienced moderate impact with podcasts and videos.
Conclusions:
Our successful model involves recruiting and retaining a national trainees’ committee, hosting an annual trainees’ conference and supporting trainee initiatives. The CUKI-TAG chair links the work of individual committee members to the Cochrane community and EBM resources. Future direction includes promoting speciality-dependant trainee engagement via diversifying and expanding our committee. We would encourage the transfer of this successful model to our international colleagues to engage trainees and inspire the next generation of clinical leaders.