Hysteroscopy training in the UK: the trainees’ perspective

Abstract

The advanced hysteroscopy special skills module has been developed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in association with the British Society of Gynaecologic Endoscopists (BSGE). It is mainly aimed at senior specialist registrars in obstetrics and gynaecology in their final two years of training, but it can also be undertaken by non-training posts in the same field. By completion of the module, ideally within a year, trainees are expected to have reached independent competence in performing both diagnostic, as well as operative hysteroscopy. A survey was done on trainees attending the mandatory course at the RCOG (intermediate/advanced hysteroscopic surgery course in 2006), which is part of the requirement for obtaining the Advanced hysteroscopy special skills module. Feedback was obtained from 44 trainees who were either already registered for the special skills module in advanced hysteroscopy or were planning on registering. Overall, 50% of candidates found the one-year target difficult to achieve. The majority attended at least one hysteroscopy outpatient clinic per week (85%) and/or one hysteroscopy theatre list per week (87%). This suggested the adequate attendance of hysteroscopy sessions; however, the problem was with operative hysteroscopy, which comprised 0–20% of training for the majority of trainees (59%). The conclusion was that the one-year target for obtaining the special skills module was difficult to achieve, with the most evident cause being the inability to acquire the expected operative hysteroscopy standard within the intended time.