Transition from physical to virtual journal club.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Orthopaedic virtual journal club started during COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design: Descriptive Cross sectional. Setting: Orthopaedic & Traumatology Division Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. Period: 6^th February 2021 to 6^th June 2023. Material & Methods: We selected one original article which was published in Journal of Pakistan Orthopaedic Association (JPOA).The author of that article would present it in synchronous virtual journal club (VJC) on Zoom. Orthopaedic residents from all over Pakistan attended the VJC. All the residents provided feedback (on 5 point Likert scale) by answering 11 questions related to various aspects of their learning experiences which were analyzed to measure the effectiveness of VJC. Results: We conducted 12 VJC on various topics. The total number of post graduate residence who attended these VJC were 380. Final year residents were more likely to attend VJC than first year residents (p=0.02). After 12 VJC the mean resident participation was 42±1.2. We received the feedback forms of 344(90.52%) residents. The VJC was extremely convenient to vast majority (86.62%, n=298) of residents. The VJC was perceived very effective and extremely valuable by 90.11% (n=310) and 84.59% (n=291) residents respectively. Majority (90.11%, n=310) of our residents strongly agreed that VJC provided them more understanding of writing an original article. Conclusion: Our transition from physical to virtual journal club was very fruitful. Virtual Journal club was an extremely convenient, very effective and extremely valuable form of distant learning. Knowledge, attitude and skills of the residents were improved which support them in their delivery of patient care and improved patient clinical outcome. The VJC provided the residents more understanding of writing an original article.