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Access to articles for hospital journal clubs

Northern Deanery Higher Specialist Training Scheme in General and Old Age Psychiatry

Peter L. Cornwall, Consultant Psychiatrist

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, St Luke’s Hospital, Middlesbrough TS4 3AF, email: lenny.cornwall{at}tney.northy.nhs.uk

Evidence-based critical appraisal of articles in journal clubs forms an essential part of psychiatric training. The College emphasises the importance of journal clubs as part of the postgraduate teaching programme (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2003) and a journal club presentation will be one of the workplace-based assessments undertaken by trainees to demonstrate competencies in the new curriculum (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2006).

However, since the loss of the National Health Service licence regarding copyright privilege it has become increasingly difficult to organise journal clubs. Previously, once a paper was identified, it could be photocopied and sent out in advance or handed out at the session. Now each individual attending must be sent details of the paper, and they must download and print their own copy. This involves excessive time and also increases cost (as printing is more expensive than photocopying). It also means that many trainees fail to have a copy of the paper for discussion, either because of lack of computer access, lack of time or perhaps through laziness. This certainly does not facilitate good-quality teaching and learning.

We wonder if other teaching programmes have had similar experiences and it they have found a more convenient way to organise access to journal articles. One way forward would be for the College to authorise the reproduction of its own publications for members organising journal clubs, allowing photocopying of articles from several peer-reviewed, hopefully high-quality journals.

References

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS (2003) Basic Specialist Training Handbook. Royal College of Psychiatrists. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/PDF/bst.pdf

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS (2006) Curriculum Pilot Pack. Royal College of Psychiatrists. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/training/curriculumpilotpack.aspx

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This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Beard, J. Articles by Cornwall, P. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Beard, J. Articles by Cornwall, P. L.