Education and training for intensive therapy in the United Kingdom

The Training/Examination Programme in Intensive Care, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists: 2. Examination

The structure of the Final Examination in Intensive Care for the award of Diploma of Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists is based on a model explicated in the College's Objectives of Training in Intensive Care. There are five sections in the examination: short answer questions, essay questions, investigations, orals and a clinical. The first examination was held in October 1979. Up to and including the examination of October 1992, 94 of the 136 attempts by 107 candidates had been successful. Eighty-three per cent of the candidates passed at the first attempt. The failure rate has been highest in the clinical section. The examination is regarded as a hard examination but one which is helpful in training and subsequent practice.

The Training/Examination Programme in Intensive Care, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. 1. Training

Unlike training for programmes in other countries which have published details of training programmes for Intensive Care Medicine, the training programme of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists does not require certification in a primary specialty, although it is possible to combine training in Intensive Care and Anaesthetics. The lynchpin of the programme is the requirement that training can be undertaken in recognised posts in intensive care units which are approved by the College. Approval of the Unit requires evidence of appropriate supervision and teaching of trainees, sufficient number of admissions with a casemix suitable for the trainees' learning needs and an adequate level of staff and equipment. The Units are assessed by physical inspection by assessors appointed by the College. The programme includes a Final Examination in Intensive Care.