Effectiveness of a web-based virtual journal club to promote medical education (Web-Ed): protocol of a multicentre pragmatic randomised trial

Rimmer, M.; Elfaki, N.; Dunlop, C.; Coleburt, D.; Cowan, N.; Raglan, O.; Teh, J.J.; Fisher, M.; McRobbie, S.; Murugesu, N.; Ramcharn, M.; Abdelrahman, M.; Jibrel, Y.; Wood, M.; Parry-Smith, W.; Al Wattar, B.H.

Abstract

Introduction A journal club (JC) is a commonly used medical educational tool. Videoconferencing technology can facilitate the delivery of JCs, however, there remains no evidence on the role of web-based virtual JCs in promoting the acquisition and retention of medical knowledge. The Web-Ed trial aims to evaluate the educational benefits, feasibility and acceptability of web-based virtual JCs compared with traditional face-to-face ones.

Methods and analysis Web-Ed is a multicentre pragmatic parallel-group randomised trial across teaching hospitals within the UK National Health Service (NHS). We will enrol qualified doctors or medical students who are >18 years old, proficient in English and able to use online videoconferencing software. Block randomisation will be used to allocate participants in 1:1 ratio to either intervention group. Both groups will be presented with the same educational material and follow a standardised JC structure hosted by nominated moderators and medical faculty members.

The primary outcome is the difference in participants’ knowledge acquisition and retention 7 days after the JCs evaluated using standardised multiple-choice questions. We will report secondarily on the feasibility and acceptability of the JCs using Likert scale questionnaires. Assuming a 30% drop-out rate, we aim to enrol 75 participants to detect a 20% improvement in knowledge acquisition at 80% power and 5% significance. We will report using mean difference or risk ratio with 95% CIs and assess significance using parametric/non-parametric testing. Where relevant, we will adjust for predetermined characteristics (age, grade of training and session duration) using multivariate regression analyses.

Ethics and dissemination Web-Ed was designed by doctors in training to address their learning needs and evaluate the preferred mode of learning. The trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant scientific conferences. The trial has been approved by the NHS Health Regulation Authority (21/HRA/3361).

Citation

Rimmer, M., Elfaki, N., Dunlop, C., Coleburt, D., Cowan, N., Raglan, O., …Al Wattar, B. (2022). Effectiveness of a web-based virtual journal club to promote medical education (Web-Ed): protocol of a multicentre pragmatic randomised trial. BMJ Open, 12(6), Article e058610. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058610

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 16, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 16, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: e058610
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058610