EAJNS Journal Club

EAJNS Critical Appraisal Bootcamp

The EAJNS Journal Club, established by the East African Journal of Neurological Sciences, is a structured six-month online bootcamp designed to bridge the gap in critical appraisal skills among early-career researchers. Presented by XYZEDIZEDI Med and Daktari Online, this initiative aims to cultivate scientific literacy and critical thinking through biweekly sessions. The program's core objectives include promoting evidence-based medicine, enhancing engagement with local journals, and developing a pipeline of junior peer reviewers for the region. To ensure a wide breadth of academic exposure, the club features papers from several collaborating journals: the East African Journal of Neurological Sciences (EAJNS), the Journal of Kenya Association of Physicians (JOKAP), the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Eastern and Central Africa (JOGECA), the Annals of African Surgery (AAS), and the Anatomy Journal of Africa (AJA). This comprehensive effort is further supported by partners including SCORE Kenya, the University of Nairobi Research Club, KUMREC, and the Students Surgical Forum, who assist in participant mobilization and discussion facilitation.

Instructions for Bootcamp Participants:

  • Ensure you submit appraisal reports for each critical appraisal session.
  • 100% submission of the reports is mandatory for certification. The report submission links will remain open till the end of the 6 month bootcamp.
  • Attendance of the online discussion sessions is highly encouraged.

Summary of the sessions so far:

Session 1: Orientation & Principles of Critical Appraisal

  • Date: Saturday, 25th Oct 2025

  • Focus: Establishing the principles of critical appraisal in science.

  • Key Speakers: 

    •  Dr. Philip Mwachaka (Editor-in-Chief, EAJNS)

    • Felix Njoroge (Projects Lead, EAJNS)

  • Summary: This introductory session outlined the importance of critical appraisal in clinical practice and the criteria used to evaluate the validity and reliability of medical research.

  • Session Recording: Youtube Link
  • Session further reading materials: LINK

Session 2: Critical Appraisal of a Cohort Study

  • Date: Thursday, 6th Nov 2025

  • Paper Appraised: "The effect of cerebrospinal fluid’s biochemical and cellular properties on ventriculoperitoneal shunt survival" by Mutiso et al. (2022). Link

  • Submit your appraisal report for session 2 here.

  • Key Personnel:

    • Presenter: Priscilla Lilechi (SCORE, MSAKE)

    • Guest Editor: Dr. Ben Mutiso (Associate Editor, EAJNS)

    • Moderator: Teresa Mundia (XYZEDIZEDI Research Dept)

  • Summary: Participants examined the strengths and limitations of cohort designs, focusing on how biochemical markers influence surgical outcomes in neurosurgery.

  • Session Recording: Youtube Link 
  • Session further reading materials: LINK

Session 3: Critical Appraisal of a Prevalence Study

  • Date: Thursday, 20th Nov 2025

  • Paper Appraised: "Spectrum and patterns of EEG abnormalities in a peripheral outpatient centre in Kenya" by Karau B, et al. (2025). Link

  • Submit your appraisal report  for session 3 here.

  • Key Personnel:

    • Presenter: Reinhard Kipkoech (UoN Research Club)

    • Editor: Dr. Sood Mohammed (Editor, JOKAP)

    • Moderator: Joy Jepkoech (XYZEDIZEDI Research Dept)

  • Summary: This session focused on cross-sectional data and the epidemiological significance of EEG findings in rural Kenyan clinical settings.

  • Session Recording: Youtube Link
  • Session further reading materials: LINK

Session 4: Critical Appraisal of a Case-Control Study

  • Date: Thursday, 4th Dec 2025

  • Collaborating Journal: JOGECA

  • Paper Appraised: " RISK FACTORS FOR INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER AMONG WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AT JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA TEACHING & REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN KISUMU COUNTY: A 5-YEAR HOSPITAL BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY., Achapa, et al. (2020), JOGECA." Link
  • Submit your appraisal for session 4 report here.

  • Key Personnel:

    • Presenter: Wangari Njuguna (KUMREC)

    • Expert Insight: Dr. Mary Kiria Koigi (Consultant OBGYN & Associate Editor, JOGECA)

    • Moderator: Najma Adan (XYZEDIZEDI Research Dept)

  • Summary: The session broke down the methodology of retrospective case-control studies, specifically looking at risk factors within obstetrics and gynecology.

  • Session Recording: YouTube Link
  • Session further reading materials: LINK

Session 5: Critical Appraisal of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

  • Date: Thursday, 18th Dec 2025

  • Collaborating Journal: Annals of African Surgery

  • Paper Appraised: "EMLA cream vs 10% Lidocaine cream for attenuating venous cannulation pain – A clinical trial" by Oluwayemisi, et al. (2019). Link

  • Submit your appraisal for session 5 report here

  • Key Personnel:

    • Presenter: Riya Patel (Students Surgical Forum)

    • Expert Insight: Dr. Francois Bokali (General Surgeon & Editorial Apprentice, Annals of African Surgery)

    • Moderator: Joy Jepkoech (XYZEDIZEDI Research Dept)

  • Summary: As the gold standard of clinical evidence, this session analyzed the trial's randomization process, blinding, and the clinical significance of localized anesthesia in surgical procedures.

  • Session Recording: YouTube Link
  • Session further reading materials: LINK 

Session 6: Critical Appraisal of an Experimental Animal Study

Date: Thursday, 15th Jan 2026

Collaborating Journal: Anatomy Journal of Africa (AJA)

Paper Appraised: "Therapeutic potentials of Vernonia amygdalina in thioacetamide-induced neurotoxicity in the CA1 hippocampal subfield via inhibition of microglial activation" by Adelodun, et al. (2024). 

Key Personnel

  • Presenter: Dr. Nyiva Mutungi (SCORE)

  • Editor AJA: Jimmy Gakure (BSc Anatomy, MBChB finalist)

  • Moderator: Lee Gitau (XYZEDIZEDI Research Department)

Session materials:

  1. Find the article here
  2. Appraisal materials: link 
  3. Report submission link: click here
  4. Session Recording: YouTube Link

 

Session Summary

Focusing on the foundational level of biomedical research, this session explored the methodology of experimental animal models. The appraisal centered on the neuroprotective effects of Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) against chemical-induced brain injury, specifically examining study design, ethical considerations in animal handling, and the translation of the findings to potential human therapeutic applications.

Session 7: Critical Appraisal of a Quasi-Experimental Study

Date: Thursday, 29th Jan 2026

Collaborating Journal: East African Journal of Neurological Sciences (EAJNS)

Paper Appraised: "Impact of hands-on training in neurology on neurophobia in medical students in Abidjan, Ivory Coast" by Aka et al. (2025).

Session materials:

  1. Find the article here
  2. Appraisal materials: link 
  3. Report submission link: click here
  4. Session Recording: YouTube Link

Key Personnel

  • Presenter: UON Research Club

  • Expert Insight: Editorial Team, East African Journal of Neurological Sciences (EAJNS)

  • Moderator: XYZEDIZEDI Research Dept

 

Session 8: Critical Appraisal of a Case Control Study

Date: Thursday, 12th Feb 2026

Collaborating Journal: Journal of the Kenya Association of Physicians (JOKAP)

Paper Appraised:
"Unmasking Lupus: Generalized Lymphadenopathy Mimicking Lymphoma in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – A Case Report and Literature Review" by Githaiga et al. (2025).

Session materials:

  • Find the article: here
  • Appraisal materials: link
  • Report submission link: click here
  • Session Recording: 

Key Personnel

Presenter: KUMREC (Kenyatta University Medical Research Club)

Expert Insight: Editorial Team, Journal of the Kenya Association of Physicians (JOKAP)

Moderator: XYZEDIZEDI Research Dept