Finding what matters

Finding a paper is one task. Deciding which papers deserve your attention each week is another.

A journal alert tells you what has been published. It still leaves you to decide whether a study applies to the patients you see. Our starting point at Keendoc is that this selection deserves as much attention as access to the paper itself.

Publication growth needs context

Scientific publishing has grown, but a single doubling rate can hide important differences. Bornmann, Haunschild, and Mutz analyzed publication counts from four databases in a 2021 study. Their overall model estimated a doubling time of 17.3 years. Growth rates varied across historical periods.

That estimate concerns science overall. It does not establish how quickly the literature relevant to a plastic surgeon grows, or how many papers you need to read.

For your working week, the more useful question is which new findings deserve a closer look.

Search and regular learning serve different needs

When you have a specific clinical question, a database search can help you investigate it. Staying current also means noticing relevant work before you know to search for it.

A congress can introduce you to that work and give you a chance to discuss it. Between meetings, you still need to decide what deserves your time.

We think that decision should start with your clinical focus areas. A useful update should explain the study's question, show what it found, and make its limitations clear. You should be able to return to the original paper and judge the evidence for yourself.

How Keendoc approaches it

Keendoc builds sessions around research selected for your field. Medical specialists review each session against its source before publication.

Every week, we email you the new sessions for your field. Listen or watch (podcast or presentation), with a written summary. Expect about 15 minutes of content.

The pilot will help us learn whether that approach fits your practice. Create your account.

Sources