Journal Club and Peer Review
As part of our Business and Professional Skills module, we were tasked to present a journal club on a paper that interested us; we chose Arena’s (2025) paper on musculotendinous injuries of the canine shoulder. As a group of equine therapists, we chose a paper that would both challenge us and expand our knowledge.
The journal club gave us an opportunity to practice presenting prior to our biomechanics presentation and work as a group to strengthen out literature review and analysis skills. Despite geographical distance, we were able to effectively construct and practice our presentation; I believe this paid off on the day. As a group, we were able to support each other, and we all received positive feedback from our peers.
The journal club improved my confidence in my presenting skills, which benefitted my recent biomechanics presentation. I am aware that I can talk too fast when I become nervous, but this is something I will continue to work on as it will also translate to communication with my clients (Pun, 2020).
As part of this same exercise, we also completed a peer review for another group in our cohort. As someone who struggles with self-criticism and evaluation, providing feedback for a classmate was daunting. I wanted to ensure I provided a balance of positive components along with elements of their presentation that could have been improved.
I was surprised, whilst completing the feedback, at how beneficial I found an in-depth focus on the grading rubric. From my undergraduate studies, these are something I am familiar with but using them from an accessor’s perspective has provided me with a greater understanding of the requirements set out, and has positively impacted my subsequent assignments as I am better able to identify what is expected.
Overall, I have conducted reflections on events that have significantly contributed to improving my confidence (along with the other identified benefits) which has rippled throughout both my academic work, but also my life. Experience courage in my convictions creates a self-fulfilling prophecy in which my confidence grows because I believe in the what I am saying or the action I am completing, and this is something I will continue to work hard on throughout my education and practice.