From Passive Attendance to Active Engagement: Reflections on an Enriched Journal Club Approach in Postgraduate Psychiatry Training from Central India

Abstract

Traditional journal clubs (JCs) in departments rely on discussing two articles (methods and content, respectively) per JC session, leading to superficial engagement and limited prereading. This manuscript introduces a novel Enriched JC (eJC) model that prioritizes depth over volume by focusing on a single article, integrating both methodological and content perspectives. Key innovations include structured preengagement through sequential multiple-choice question sets (including supplementary readings), dissemination via both digital platforms and hard copies on notice boards, and resident-weighted participatory article selection. In proposed eJC, feedback from all residents can be incorporated to iteratively refine the process. By operationalizing engagement through simple, low-resource strategies, this model addresses practical limitations of existing approaches and enhances meaningful academic participation.