Do you now or have you ever participated in a study club?
Eighty-six percent of respondents to January JADA’s question of the month said they have participated in a study club. "Being a member of a study club is one of the most enjoyable ventures of my professional life!" said one.
Overall, these respondents were passionate about study clubs, and several said they have belonged to more than one at a time or have been members for 20, 30 and sometimes more than 40 years.
They also touted the benefits of membership. "The study club is my chance to meet monthly with people who are having the same heartaches and successes that I experience," said one dentist. "As a solo practitioner, it is one of those things, in addition to teaching, that keeps me sane and up-to-date."
"I learn a lot just by discussing issues with my fellow dentists," said another. "This is why I am a member of three study clubs."
"I have found them to be extremely beneficial," said yet another reader. "Not only to increase my knowledge and skills but to improve my patients’ welfare and dental health."
Other membership benefits that respondents mentioned were receiving low-cost continuing education, or CE, credits; networking; and socializing. "The major benefit for me has been the collegiality," said one reader. "Our bond is the substance that all parts of our tripartite system desire. We practice as we."
Some respondents, however, noted what they saw as drawbacks to study clubs. They include no CE credits awarded in some cases, that some are little more than parties, and the time and financial commitments needed to join. "I have bad experience with study clubs—too much time involved," said one reader. "The literature remains, in my opinion, the best source to stay current."
Others also mentioned that study clubs might not always reach the dentists who could benefit most from them. "My experience is that cutting-edge dentists participate and insecure or low-proficiency dentists have never participated," said one.
Several readers offered advice on how to start and run a study club. "Ensure that members are dentists with high standards who adhere to a strict club agenda so it does not degenerate into a gossip session," said one.
"In our club, each member is required on a rotation basis to present a paper to the study club," said another. "Two critics then do a critique on the paper as to presentation and content."
Other suggestions included limiting the size of the membership to eight to 14, meeting monthly, and inviting speakers or having members speak.
Fourteen percent of the respondents to the question of the month said they have not participated and do not participate in study clubs. "I prefer to study on my own time and at my own pace," said one.
Some, however, said they would like to join a study club if one is available to them. Dentists and dental students who are seeking information about local study clubs may want to contact their component and constituent societies to find out what is available in their communities. The directory of constituent and component societies, which includes contact information, is available on ADA.org at "www.ada.org/ada/resources/societies/searchorg.asp".
