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. 2025 Sep 10;24(1):1166.
doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03841-z.

Professional experiences with journal club implementation in postgraduate nursing: a qualitative study

Rasha A Mohamed  1   2 , Salwa Ali Marzouk  3 , Mohammed Owayrif Alanazi  2 , Nadia Falah Alenezi  3 , Hadya Obied Alenzi  3 , Naglaa Mustafa El-Sayed  1 , Rasha Fawzy Abdelmotaleb Gad  4   5 , Nadia Ahmed El-Adham  6 , Hanem Awad Mekhamier  6 , Eman Shabaan Salah Hamd  7 , Asmaa Abouda Abdelhameed Soultan  8 , Wael G Nouh  2 , Asmaa Mohamed Ali AlAbd  9   10 , Abeer A Almowafy  11
Affiliations

Professional experiences with journal club implementation in postgraduate nursing: a qualitative study

Rasha A Mohamed et al. BMC Nurs. .

Abstract

Background: Postgraduate education is embracing journal clubs (JCs), which provide a platform for members to critically evaluate research articles and extract evidence-based nursing practice. The implementation of JCs by postgraduate nurses, especially in varied educational contexts such as Egypt, remains underexplored. This study aimed to explore and gain valuable insights into the professional experiences of implementing JCs among postgraduate nursing students in Egypt.

Methods: A qualitative study utilizing focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted with 42 postgraduate nursing students between September and December 2024. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. The inductive thematic analysis revealed several key themes.

Results: The study identified five main themes: familiarity with JCs, benefits of JCs, preparation and implementation, challenges, and recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of JCs. This study highlights the significance of JCs in promoting evidence-based nursing competencies, cultivating a research-oriented culture, and enhancing clinical application. Participants expressed concerns regarding time constraints and insufficient training, highlighting areas for improvement. It suggests integrating JCs into curriculum, aligning professional and academic responsibilities, and offering foundational research methodology training.

Conclusions: The findings show that JCs are viewed by participants as worthwhile learning experiences that foster research literacy, academic development, and transferable skills including critical thinking, communication, and partnership. To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of curriculum-integrated JCs, several strategies could be implemented: providing faculty training and introductory workshops in research appraisal; intentionally incorporating JCs into the nursing curriculum; allowing participants' clinical and academic obligations; utilizing virtual platforms; and ensuring fair access to research materials. These observations, when combined, support the pedagogical worth of JCs as organized, practice-based learning resources that connect clinical education and research.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Keywords: Critical appraisal; Evidence-based practice; Journal club; Postgraduate nursing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: The study was conducted according to the rules and ethical principles established by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Nursing at Mansoura University (Approval No. IRB-0706). The ethical guidelines outlined in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent revisions were followed in this study. Participation in the study was completely voluntary and non-profit, with all participants providing informed written consent after being fully briefed on the study’s aim and assured of the confidentiality of their data. Furthermore, participants were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any time. These measures demonstrated our commitment to conducting a rigorous, ethically responsible study that respected the rights and welfare of participants while providing valuable insights into implementing JC in nursing practice. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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