Iranian Journal of Medical Education

Introduction: Regarding the importance of journal club in improving the quality of education, improving critical thinking and learning, and applying for evidence-based medicine, the first step for improving the quality of journal club is to assess the current situation and identify the gap with standards. This study endeavored to evaluate the quality of journal club meetings from the viewpoints of professors and postgraduate students of physical therapy department.
Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of 40 faculty members and post-graduate students attending the sessions. Data collection was accomplished using the Journal Club Quality Assessment Questionnaire, which included 25 items in 7 domains for assessing skills such as searching articles, understanding and appraising articles, power point preparation, presentation, study habits, improving in treatment's interventions, and overall effect of journal club meetings. Data were analyzed through Excel 2013 and descriptive statistics including frequency table.
Results: In the searching articles, understanding and appraising articles, power point preparation, presentation, study habits, improving in treatment's interventions and overall effect of journal club items, 65.8%, 72.6%, 63.3%, 79.4%, 88.9%, 76.7% and 86.7% of the participants, respectively, reported good to excellent quality of journal club.
Conclusion: Considering the good satisfaction of such meetings, it is recommended to conduct these meetings in other faculties of rehabilitation sciences and related fields with proper need assessment and planning.