University of Wisconsin–Madison ⋅ Medical College of Wisconsin
WMJ

Criteria to Assess Heath Equity Implications of Research Articles in a Family Medicine Residency Journal Club

Kellia J. Hansmann, MD, MPH, PhD; Lashika Yogendran, MD, MS; Thomas Hahn, MD; Diana Carvajal, MD, MPH; Sarina Schrager, MD, MS

WMJ. 2026;125(2):286-289. Published June 2, 2026.

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ABSTRACT

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel process for appraising the health equity implications of research articles.

Methods: We added 4 questions assessing health equity implications to existing resident journal club rubrics. We assessed family medicine resident attitudes toward and confidence in assessing health equity implications using surveys and focus groups at baseline and 6 months after implementing the additional questions.

Results: Average confidence in evaluating health equity implications of research articles increased between baseline surveys (n=33) and follow-up surveys (n=12; mean change, 0.7; range, 1-4).

Discussion: Incorporating additional journal club questions increased resident confidence in critically appraising the health equity implications of research articles.

Author affiliations: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin (Carvajal, Hahn, Hansmann, Schrager, Yogendran).
Corresponding author: Kellia J. Hansmann, MD, MPH, PhD; 610 N Whitney Way, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53705; email kellia.hansmann@fammed.wisc.edu; ORCID ID 0000-0002-3371-0311
Financial disclosures: None declared.
Funding/support: This project was made possible by the UW–Madison Institute for Clinical & Translational Research with support from NIH-NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) 1UL1TR002373, funds through a grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Program, Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP 5129), and departmental grants through the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
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