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JAG forms for DOPS, MSF and Mini-CEX (required for RITAs) can be found
at:
http://www.jrcptb.org.uk/forms/Pages/default.aspx
Updated November 2007
I recently attended the SAC meeting as trainees’ representative.
From the trainees’ perspective, the most important issue addressed
was that of the mandating of endoscopy courses. It was recently suggested
by the SAC that the basic endoscopy course and colonoscopy course should
be made mandatory for all gastroenterology trainees. This had been brought
to the attention of the TiG committee prior to the meeting, and after
canvassing opinion from many trainees in many regions, we submitted a
response to the committee. A copy of this letter
is attached.
A long discussion took place regarding whether or not these courses should
be made mandatory. There were significant concerns from members of the
committee that without such courses there would be massive variation in
the quality of training across the UK particularly in view of the fact
that only 25-30% of those consultants who provide endoscopic training
have completed the ‘Train the Trainers’ course themselves. There
was also felt to be a significant risk that standards of training would
drop if the courses were not mandated. Therefore, in spite of the objections
of the trainees, the basic endoscopy and colonoscopy courses are to be
mandated for all gastroenterology trainees in the future and the curriculum
will be amended to reflect this. The costs, however, are to be slightly
reduced to around £700 for the basic endoscopy course and £950
for the colonoscopy course.
The other main issue related to trainees discussed at the meeting was
that JAG are updating the way in which accreditation is achieved for endoscopy.
For further information on this please see the JAG reports on the TiG
website and the JAG website itself (www.thejag.org.uk).
Updated June 2007
At the recent SAC meeting which I attended as Trainees’ representative,
discussion was mainly based around the changes in training which will
become apparent with the advent of the new ST trainees.
The first cohort of ST3 trainees have now been selected and will be starting
their training in August of this year. It was felt that, in the future,
some degree of selection will take place to recruit ST3s and that this
is likely to take place on a national level. MRCP will be a desirable
criterion for those applying to ST3 from 2008 onwards, but will not be
essential.
Assessment methods throughout ST training will remain similar to those
which are in use currently. DOPS, Mini-CEX and MSF/360 degree appraisal
will all remain in place but in the next few years, these are likely to
be undertaken in the form of an e-portfolio. Please note that new forms
for DOPS assessment are soon to be issued from JAG so do watch their website
www.thejag.org.uk for these as
you will be expected to use them.
The main addition to the assessment methods is the introduction of the
Knowledge Based Assessment (KBA) in Gastroenterology. This will lead to
the award of the Diploma of the Royal College of Physicians (Gastroenterology)
or DipRCP(Gastro). The first diet of the examination is due to take place
in May 2008 and question writing is in full flow! Thereafter, the examination
will take place twice yearly in May and November. Although not compulsory
for those of us currently in training, it is anticipated that in the future,
it will be necessary to have passed the KBA by ST6. Candidates must have
passed MRCP(UK) before they can attempt the specialist exam. The assessment
will be a “best of five” format and will be undertaken online
at several regional centres. There will be two papers of 100 questions,
each lasting for 3 hours. Around 80-90% of candidates will pass the exam
at each sitting, although it will be judged against a predetermined pass
mark and not a pass rate. The cost to the candidate to sit the exam is
likely to be in the region of £800.
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