Evidence-Based Practice and Research Module

Revised Concept Note for Small Group Discussions & Journal Club
1. Introduction
The Evidence-Based Practice and Research Module (EBPRM) begins in Term 1 and continues until
the final year. The Small Group Discussions (SGD) and Journal Club (JC) are components of the
EBPRM. Students are expected to participate in SGD/JC sessions periodically throughout the five-
year undergraduate programme.
2. Learning outcomes
By the end of the SGD/JC sessions, students should be able to:
 explain and apply key research concepts at the undergraduate level
 critically appraise a research communication at the undergraduate level.
3. Number of sessions and notional hours
Each student will be required to attend a total of eight (08) SGD/JC sessions. Each session will be
2 hours in duration and will require at least five hours of preparation (Table 1).
Table 1. SGD/JC sessions and time allocation
No. of SGD/JC Duration of a Class time (hours) Preparation time Notional hours
SGD/JCS (hours) (2.5 hours/class hour)
08 2 16 40 56

4. Organisation and structure of sessions

SGD/JC sessions will be coordinated by the EBPRM Action Committee. A committee member will
be assigned to coordinate the SGD/JC for each batch.
The learning objectives and student and tutor guides will be developed for each session in
advance. The reading material will vary based on the objectives of each session (Annexure I).
Batches will be divided into groups of about 25-30 students. Each student will belong to a specific
SGD/JC group in each phase based on dissection/clinical groups for ease of scheduling.
SGD/JC sessions will be scheduled flexibly, towards the end of the term. All groups will not
necessarily meet at the same time, but will meet within a week.
Phase 1 will consist of three SGD where students will be introduced to research and journal
articles (Annexure 1). The student guide and reading material will be circulated two weeks ahead
of the session. Reading material will be selected with consideration to the level of English. Tutors
will be assigned one month ahead of the SGD and the tutor guide will be circulated two weeks
ahead.
Phases 2 and 3: Journal articles will be circulated a month ahead of the JC along with the student
guide and the objectives of each session. Students will be expected to read the assigned articles

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 Evidence-Based Practice and Research Module
Revised Concept Note for Small Group Discussions & Journal Club
before the session. Tutors will be assigned and the tutor guide circulated one month ahead of
the session.
Each SGD/JC group will be divided into three to four subgroups during each session, and each
subgroup will be given a set of tasks to complete/questions to reflect on within the subgroup.
Two or three students from each subgroup will present their work to the larger group to achieve
the learning objectives.
5. Delivery
SGD/JC sessions will be delivered in person unless the virtual format is required owing to the
prevailing COVID-19 regulations and/or the availability of tutors.
The Journal Club will be led by students; tutors will play a facilitating role.
6. Tutors
A call for tutors will be sent out by the EBPR team periodically to recruit tutors to the tutor pool.
Tutors may be academic staff at the Faculty, extended faculty members or alumni who wish to
support the Faculty.
One to two tutors will be assigned for each group on a rotational basis.
The tutor(s) is/are expected to ensure that the students achieve the learning objectives of each
session as outlined in the tutor guide, and provide feedback at the end of each session.
7. Attendance
Students are expected to participate in all SGD/JC sessions.
8. Assessment
The EBPR module examination will be held in Term 7. Content covered in the SGD/JC will be
assessed at this examination. In total, five (05) marks will be allocated for attendance to the
SGD/JC from the total marks of the module assessment. This will be calculated as a proportion
(the number of sessions attended from the total number of sessions), and then converted to a
mark out of five.

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Revised Concept Note for Small Group Discussions & Journal Club

Annexure I: Timing and area of focus of each SGD/JC session

Term Session Topics
Term 1 SGD 1 Introduction to research
Term 2 SGD 2 Exploring scientific evidence
Term 3 SGD 3 Introduction to journal articles
Term 4 No session First Examination for Medical Degrees
Term 5 JC 1 Study designs
Term 6 JC 2 Study population and sampling
Term 7 JC 3 Study instruments
Term 9 No session Second Examination for Medical Degrees – Part 1
Term 10 No session Research project due
Term 11 No session Second Examination for Medical Degrees – Part 2
Final year JC 6 Systematic review and meta-analysis
JC 7 Clinical trials/clinical practice guidelines

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