Exit Examinations - The European View

Lars Pahlman, University Hospital Uppsala, Sweden

Powerpoint File

All European national societies or colleges are organised in Europe under the umbrella of UEMS (Union européene des médecins spécialistes). UEMS have different sections and one of them is the section of surgery. Within this section there are a lot of sub-specialities like urology, vascular surgery, endocrine surgery, hepatobilliar surgery, etc. and of course coloproctology.

The Division of Coloproctology is organised with a chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary plus a board with two members represented from each country in Europe. During the last five years the Division of Coloproctology has had examinations all around Europe together with meetings in colorectal surgery. It has been decided that every year when EACP/ECCP meet there should be an opportunity for surgeons to take part in the examination called the European Board of Surgical Qualification - coloproctology. The examination is divided in two parts.

Part I of EBSQ is a secretarial work, where the applicant's CV and surgical training is scrutinised checking that everything is fulfilled to continue to part II.

Part II is the real examination, where the applicants have to answer a written questionnaire in coloproctology. Also two oral examinations, one on coloproctology in general and one examination which is more an academic part, is performed. In the general coloproctology examination the applicant shows pictures of different diseases and different treatment options are discussed. In the academic part the applicant has to read a paper and discuss « pros and cons » about this paper.

So far 80 surgeons in Europe have taken the accreditation in proctology.

The future for the Division of Coloproctology is to identify training units and training concepts in all countries, so young surgeons can find their way to train coloproctology. Moreover, dependant upon the interest for this examination there are plans for national examinations under the hospice of Division of Coloproctology.