Critical reading seminars for medical residents. Report of a teaching technique.

The purpose and structure of a "critical reading seminar" series for second-year residents in medicine is described. This seminar has been a useful and popular forum for teaching research methodology and critical reading skills to physicians-in-training. Seminar content has emphasized the strength and limitations of research design, sampling and subject allocation, measures and techniques of analysis. Explanations for the popularity of these teaching sessions are briefly discussed.