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Assessing practical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology: educational issues and practical implications

Department of Women's Health, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK E-mail: dina.bisson{at}blueyonder.co.uk (corresponding author)

Judith P Hyde, MRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN, UK

Jane E Mears, MRCOG

Specialist Registrar in Education and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michael's Hospital, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EG, UK

Shorter training programmes and a reduction in working hours have caused concern about competency levels of trainees completing training programmes in all specialties. Competency based assessment has been introduced into foundation programmes and there is an urgent need to develop similar assessment tools for specialist training programmes. This article describes the current situation in obstetrics and gynaecology and the challenges ahead for the trainers who will be using the tools that are being developed. All doctors involved in obstetrics and gynaecology training need to embrace this important initiative and as a specialty we need to ensure that the tools introduced are reliable, valid and easy to use.

Keywords assessment / competency / OSATS / surgical skills / training