From
http://www.intercollegiatemrcs.org.uk/new/pdf/mrcs_syllabus.pdf
Understanding of the following generic areas, based on the General Medical Council’s publication Good Medical Practice, is expected and may be assessed in the examination.
[...]
7. Appraisal, monitoring of quality of performance, audit and clinical governance
Demonstrating a commitment to professional audit and peer review.
Understanding the need for appraisals and assessments of professional competence, including revalidation procedures.
Applying critical appraisal skills, statistical interpretation and audit to evaluate care
[...]
Evidence-based Surgical Practice
Decision making in surgery
Statistics
Principles of research and clinical trials
Critical evaluations of surgical innovations
[All these are from the Scholar domain-TR]
Clinical
Objective
To demonstrate a rigorous approach to clinical problem solving
To critique clinical papers in a manner that demonstrates broad understanding of research methodology and the suitability of different approaches
Knowledge
Literature searching skills and use of PubMed, Medline, Cochrane reviews and the internet
Basic Statistics
Skills
Posing a clinical question
Recognising and identiying gaps in knowledge and expertise around a clinical question
Formulating a plan to fill the gap by:
* conducting an appropriate literature search based upon a clinical question
* assimilating and critically appraise the literature
* developing a system to store and retrieve relevant literature
* consulting others (physicians and other healthcare professionals) in a collegiate manner
Proposing a solution to the clinical question
Implementing the solution in practice.
Evaluating the outcome and reassess the solution
Identifying practice areas for research
Clinical
Objective
To carry out at least one effective clinical audit during the intermediate stage of training.
To devise and conduct the audit to address a problem that has been identified through to the point where an effective solution has been devised and the audit cycle completed to show improvement.
To write a case report to the standard suitable for submission to a medical journal or presentation at a national meeting.
Knowledge
To build on the knowledge obtained in the initial stage.
Understand the application of statistics in scientific medical practice.
The working and uses of national and local databases used for audit such as specialty data collection systems, surgical logbooks, relevant cancer registries.
The working and uses of local and national systems available for reporting and learning from clinical incidents and near misses in the UK.
An outline knowledge of the different methods of obtaining data for audit including patient feedback questionnaires, hospital sources and national reference data.
Skills
To build on the skills acquired in the initial stage.
Providing an accurate précis of clinical papers from established medical journals.
Critiquing clinical papers in a manner that demonstrates a broad understanding of research methodology and the suitability of different approaches.
Conducting a literature search using the appropriate methods.
Behaviour
To continue to demonstrate the behaviour outlined in the initial stage.
Thinks clearly.
Questions critically.
Practical activities
Design and carry through a clinical audit to the stage of re-audit.
Organise a single departmental mortality and morbidity meeting (M & M) or other audit meeting.
Clinical
Objective
To demonstrate a rigorous approach to clinical problem solving.
To have effectively supervised at least one audit which addresses a problem that has been identified and should be carried through to the point where an effective solution has been devised and the audit cycle completed to show improvement.
Knowledge
Builds on the knowledge obtained in the initial and intermediate stages.
Understands of the application of statistics in scientific medical practice.
The working and uses of national and local databases used for audit such as specialty data collection systems, surgical logbooks, relevant cancer registries.
The working and uses of local and national systems available for reporting and learning from clinical incidents and near misses in the UK.
An outline knowledge of the different methods of obtaining data for audit including patient feedback questionnaires, hospital sources and national reference data.
Skills
Builds on the skills acquired in the initial and intermediate stages.
Providing an accurate précis of clinical papers from established medical journals.
Critiquing clinical papers in a manner that demonstrates a broad understanding of research methodology and the suitability of different approaches.
Assessing the breadth of opinion in the literature and conflicting ideas.
Conducting a literature search using the appropriate methods, for example PubMed, Ovid, NICE, Cochrane.
Sifting, sorting and evaluating evidence, and presenting this, in appropriate format, together with reasoned discussion and opinion.
Behaviour
To build on behaviour displayed in the initial and intermediate stages.
Practical activities
Design and carry through a clinical audit which has achieved a change in practice.
Organise a programme of departmental meetings.