Podcasts can be a convenient, varied, and fun way to keep current with guidance to support clinical practice. Episodes can vary in length from 5 minutes to over 1 hour and can be made by anyone, from venerable establishments of medical education to individual medical professionals.

However, finding reputable, reliable medical podcasts can take some work. While it is possible to ask a friend for recommendations or search a podcast app, it is important to verify the legitimacy of any podcast. Check if the material is made by a reputable source, if any continuing professional development (CPD) credit is backed by a legitimate authority, and if there is evidence supplied for the material presented.

It is helpful to start with trusted organizations. Many journals, including JAMA and the Lancet, produce podcasts offering summaries of an issue or discussing individual articles. Medical organizations and societies, hospitals, and other medical institutions may also offer podcasts relevant to their focus, including podcast versions of grand rounds or other presentations. Searching organizations’ websites can unearth podcast gold.

Though many podcasts offer CPD credits for listening, remember to review the CPD information for individual podcasts and consult your national college to determine whether you can claim CPD credits for listening.

The College Library’s Podcasts web page (www.cpsbc.ca/registrants/library/podcasts [10]), curated by librarians, includes medical podcasts that cover family medicine and specialties, along with information about possible CPD credits.
—Chris Vriesema-Magnuson
Librarian

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This article is the opinion of the Library of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and has not been peer reviewed by the BCMJ Editorial Board.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License [11].