European Curriculum Recommendations for Training in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine: one step further

Abstract

The 2010 September issue of Breathe features the Curriculum Recommendations for Training in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine 1; a detailed version of the 24 curriculum modules can also be found online at http://hermes.ersnet.org/. The curriculum is the result of the ongoing work of the Paediatric HERMES (Harmonised Education in Respiratory Medicine for European Specialists) Task Force. It represents the second step of the Task Force’s ongoing work. The goal of the Task Force is to strengthen paediatric respiratory medicine in Europe by increasing quality and harmonising training. The Task Force, consisting of 17 acknowledged experts in PRM, is strongly supported by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Headquarters and an educational specialist (J. Busari). Wide-ranging consultation has been used throughout the development process since the Task Force took up its work in 2007. Following an online survey, which highlighted the need to update the first European syllabus in PRM 2, the core syllabus was revised and published in March 2009 3. The syllabus lists the knowledge considered necessary for a paediatric respiratory specialist. It is divided into 24 modules and specifies the required level of knowledge. To ensure the acceptability of the results of the Task Force’s work, development of the syllabus included a modified Delphi process involving: respondents from across Europe, who voted on behalf of their respective National Societies; fellows in training from different countries; and the Task Force members themselves. The tertiary care level of training includes 21 mandatory modules and three optional modules, with a specified level of competence that is to be achieved (table 1). The …