Science workgroup

The Science workgroup supports University of Tartu medical students in learning evidence-based medicine. Its aim is to introduce students to research and to the ways of contributing to the advance of medicine, and to involve students in research projects from their very first years of study.

To that end the workgroup organises a number of projects and events over the academic year, offering the chance to hear personal accounts and research projects and to take part in trainings and competitions. Together with East Tallinn Central Hospital we run a case report writing competition and training in statistics and research methods, and with the journal Eesti Arst a competition for research articles. The monthly journal club teaches structured reading of research papers, and at the biomedicine circle residents and doctors alike share their experiences of study and research — with us you get the skills and ideas you will need in later medical practice. At the annual neuroscience conference, organised together with the neuroscience circle, students present research in neurology and neurosurgery that broadens horizons and knowledge of neuroscience.

The Science workgroup also takes part in what other workgroups do — with the Exchange workgroup we help organise students’ research exchanges in Estonia, and with the Curare workgroup we contribute to publishing research articles written by medical students. Every May there is also the White Coat Run, organised jointly by several workgroups.

Journal club

We meet, look for flaws in researchers’ studies, and learn how to avoid them and how it could be done better. We practise critically appraising the quality of a research paper and build our knowledge of different study designs. We answer the questions: can the paper be trusted, and can its results therefore be applied in real (clinical) practice? If not, what would a study look like whose results could be trusted?

The paper is presented by a presenter, and reading it beforehand is not compulsory, though it is recommended. You too can pick a paper on a topic and in a format you like and, analysing it through with the supervisor, draw out new knowledge of methodical and critical thinking, which we will very much need in our future work as doctors. The journal club is supervised by Marika Tammaru, head of the research department at East Tallinn Central Hospital.

Journal club contact: ajakirjaklubi@eays.ee

How to join? Get in touch with the workgroup lead: nore@eays.ee