JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The use of novel rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine for psychiatric disorders is expanding, and knowledge sharing and community building in this field are essential. The online ketamine and related compounds international journal club (KIJC) was created by a UK group of academic clinicians and psychiatry trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance was voluntary, extracurricular, and free. Meetings were held twice per month to discuss articles related only to the use of ketamine for the treatment of mental health conditions. A website, email, and word of mouth were used for recruitment. The meetings were conducted live using video conferencing software in three parts: a 20-minute presentation, a 15-minute chaired question and answer session, and a 25-minute informal discussion with attendees' cameras on. The first two parts were recorded and uploaded to the KIJC website alongside corresponding publications.

Objective:

A preliminary evaluation of the online international journal club’s satisfaction and impact after the first year of the KIJC. The journal club aimed to facilitate bidirectional discussions, the sharing of ideas, and networking between clinical and academic professionals.

Methods:

Two anonymous online cross-sectional surveys were conducted using the web tool SurveyMonkey from November 2021 to February 2022, one for speakers and another for audience members, separately. Various survey statements, 14 for speakers and 12 for the audience, were categorized according to format satisfaction, format impact, obtaining participants’ primary career roles, and requesting optional written feedback. Responses were compared between both groups and analysed. There were 24 meetings in the first year, with a mean of 51 (standard deviation (SD) ± 20) audience members attending each session live and a mean of 63 (SD±50) views of each subsequent recording. Twenty-four speakers from 8 countries presented their most recent ketamine publications to an international audience of professionals, typically within 2 months of publication. An inductive thematic analysis was performed and lessons learned from designing the journal club format were summarised.

Results:

A total of thirty survey responses (n=30) were obtained, demonstrating overall agreement with statements. Twelve of 24 speakers (50%) and 18 of 51 (SD±20) average audience members (35%) regarded the journal club's format and design as impactful and satisfying. Many survey statements indicated similar levels of agreement between both groups. The majority of respondents identified as clinicians, researchers, and clinician-researchers. Additionally, 11 respondents (37%) also provided optional written feedback, from 3 speakers (10%) and 8 audience members (27%). From the feedback five main themes were derived: engagement with the journal club, desire for active participation, improving the platform, positive learning experiences, and suggestions for future sessions.

Conclusions:

The journal club successfully reached its intended audience and developed into an online community. The majority of participants were satisfied with the format and found it impactful. Overall, the journal club appears to be a valuable tool for knowledge sharing and community building in the field of ketamine therapy for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. A larger sample size and additional testing methods are required to support the generalisability of the journal club's format.