How to keep up with the medical literature: III. Expanding the number of journals you read regularly

Abstract

Clinicians can derive immense satisfaction from keeping abreast of new developments in patient care by regularly scanning the medical journal literature. Combined with good reading habits and self-discipline, this scanning generally can be accomplished within the time that most practitioners allot to attempting to keep up to date. We describe tactics for formulating a personalized journal-reading list and ensuring access to the key articles in one's field at a reasonable cost. These tactics begin with deleting low-yield journals from regular reading and adding journals more relevant to one's interests. The cost of multiple journal subscriptions can be reduced by circulating different journals among colleagues or by regular visits to the library. These tactics can be supplemented or replaced by using Current Contents or the Selective Dissemination of Information service of the National Library of Medicine and other database vendors.