Digesting journals

Does reading medical journals sound boring and geeky? Tiago Villaneuva and Balaji Ravichandran explain why they think starting to read medical journals while you are at medical school is invaluable

As medical students, you might well be familiar with the scenario where colleagues discuss a recent paper they read in the New England Journal of Medicine, BMJ, or Lancet with their hospital consultants. Medical journals are a way for doctors to keep abreast of the most recent and relevant developments in their field. This is essential for long term medical practice, as medicine is a constantly changing field. The first line treatment for an infectious disease yesterday might well be contraindicated today, and any textbook will be out of date by a couple of years when a new edition appears.

Journals are an important way of disseminating relevant medical information to clinicians and researchers alike—from recent case reports to potentially dangerous drug interactions. Critical appraisal of research articles will help to develop the most valuable skills used in everyday medical practice.

However, the already overburdened medical student will not find the idea of reading weekly journals appealing, even if it is part of the learning requirements at undergraduate level. But contrary to what many of you might think, “giving medical students their own weekly copies of [medical] journals and having them present articles for discussion proved to be a huge success, as shown by increased journal reading, rates of subscription, and interest.”¹

So, why should you start reading journals now, at undergraduate level, rather than when you finish medical school? Well, for the simple reason that practice makes perfect. By starting early, you stand to gain a good reading habit, which is perhaps the hardest thing to achieve. Admittedly, students need to go through a long process of becoming acquainted and familiar with medical journals and realising their potential for personal and professional development or even leisure.

It would help to get rid of any negative preconceptions about medical journals by starting with a journal article that you are interested in. Indeed, it is likely that a newly qualified doctor with habits ingrained at medical school will find reading medical journals not only second nature, but a captivating and a pleasurable thing to do.

For reasons outlined above, regular reading stimulates and sharpens one's judgment of a paper. Passive absorption of any medical information could prove disastrous. Instead, reading journals should be a dynamic interactive process of questioning what is written, reassessing your knowledge, raising new questions, and perhaps even dismissing the conclusions of the authors and submitting your own opinion in the form of correspondence.

Reading medical journals will also make medical students aware of the importance of sustained research (basic science or clinico-epidemiological) in medicine. It must be remembered, however, that every clinician is also a researcher, as each patient presents a potential research project, the outcome being improvement in the patient's condition. Understanding the implications of basic and clinical research is indispensable in medical practice today.

Finally, it is worth remembering that medical journals convey information, information that is power, and power in the noblest sense of the word: power to change things and to influence attitudes, behaviours, and decisions. And, most importantly, power to help your fellow human beings.

Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Begin simply, and do not worry about understanding everything that you read. Always have a medical dictionary with you, and when in doubt, do not hesitate to ask someone you trust.

Start with student medical journals (see box online) to get a feel for reading journals, and then progress to general medical journals. Preferably, read review articles before you go on to read research papers.

It might be helpful to read “How to read a paper” by Trisha Greenhalgh (at http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/collections/read.htm) or JAMA's “User Guides to the Medical Literature” (at www.shef.ac.uk/scharr/ir/userg.html) before you start reading research articles.

Try reading general science journals and general medical journals in the corresponding years of your medical education. Not only are both indispensable, but they may be helpful if you're planning a career in research.

Personal taste and preferences will come in due course, as well as a sense of usefulness and enjoyment, which ideally come hand in hand.

The box gives a list of helpful medical journals, which is by no means exhaustive. The journals have been chosen for their usefulness and readability and are mainly published in English. Many good journals are also available in other languages, and some of the main English language general medical journals have editions in other languages.

Most, if not all, journals have an online website, though not always with free access. The subscription prices for many of these journals are quite high, and you may not be able to afford access to the contents. If you do not have the required journal available through your library, and the online content is not available under open access, you can find the email address of the corresponding author (usually provided in the abstract or available on PubMed) and ask them for a reprint. Most authors will send the full text promptly, especially if it is an article that was published recently.

The full text of the journals is also accessible through the World Health Organization's Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) for economically disadvantaged nations.

1. Kristinsson A. Journal reading in an undergraduate curriculum. (Correspondence). N Engl J Med 1994:330;1762.

   

           

	EDITORIALS Digesting journals       Tiago Villanueva, Balaji Ravichandran (July 2006)
	Ahmad Ayaz Sabri (July 1st, 2006)       Fresh Doctor ahmadasabri@gmail.com
	Importance of journal reading and reading journals in student life is undeniable. This article has under scored this fact quite nicely. Various tips and ideas are given to help students start journal reading. I want to share an idea that helped me a lot in starting journal reading. First go through the summaries or first paragraph of each article carefully. Always start reading the journal from the article that attracts you most and then proceed with reading articles relatively less attractive to you. If you don't find any article of your interest, then read relatively simple articles like review articles before you go for original research papers. Don't try to read the whole journal in one sitting. By following this routine you will never get fed up from journal reading. Another way of learning from journals is that, after reading an article stop and think if you can write a letter about any point of that article. Don't worry if you don't find any point to write about. As you think about different aspects of the article, it will consolidate your newly learnt information. If you do find some good point to write about, then go ahead and write a letter, it will boost your moral and also improve your writing and communication skills. Lastly, don't get disappointed if your letter is rejected, as in the start it happens with everybody.

	EDITORIALS Digesting journals       Tiago Villanueva, Balaji Ravichandran (July 2006)
	Shaima Aslam (August 5th, 2006)       2nd year Medical Student, St. George's University of London shaimaaslam@hotmail.com
	I found great interest in reading the "Digesting Journals" article and think the authors have made a truly valid point. As mentioned, it is vital that reading journals from early on will help later with your medical education. Sometimes just reading newspapers may not be focused enough since they do not contain all the up to date information on latest medical developments. I not only think it is important to know general medical advances but it also provides a break from studying yet you are still learning. I find many articles very interesting to read. It may also help you with your course as I have found articles that have provided me with the information I need to complete my Special Study Modules. I particularly liked how the authors have given tips on how to read articles especially for those who feel a little overwhelmed by the idea. Also the list of journals provided is a good idea since students may find different journals more appealing and are given a choice on which journals they may prefer to read. Since we are entering into the medical world it would be beneficial to read these journals since they are of relevance to us. So why not make the most of it as much as possible and a good way to start is by reading something that is easily accessible, enjoyable and provides endless knowledge!