• Education
• sexually transmitted infections
• sexual health
• education
• genitourinary med
• medical history
• primary care
• STDs

Healthcare and information technology have dramatically changed in recent years, and one of the medical areas most affected is the field of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) (and its preceding organisations) have had a major role in the provision of education to those delivering STI and HIV care. Several years ago the Sexually Transmitted Infection Foundation (STIF) course was developed to provide education for general practitioners and family planning doctors. Although very successful, changes in healthcare delivery, providers and information technology have prompted the BASHH Education Committee (EC) to review the course, to ensure it is fit for 2010 and beyond. The result is an exciting and evolving programme.

STIF has been re-branded as ‘The STI Foundation’ (http://www.bashh.org/stif_ic; accessed 20 Sep 2010), a comprehensive education package for level 1 and 2 providers of sexual health and genitourinary medicine (GUM) nurses working in level 3 services. It is divided into separate components, aimed at doctors and nurses (and also other health providers).

E-learning for healthcare, in particular the excellent HIV–STI programme (lead Jackie Sherrard), means there is less need for didactic teaching. STIF (lead Nick Theobald) is now a 1-day course, which covers epidemiology and skills and attitudes. An extra optional day (STIF-Plus) is available covering, for example, genital dermatology, syphilis and sexual assault (initiated by Jyoti Dhar).

A framework for different levels of practical training and competency assessment to reflect the standards of sexual health service delivery is under development (lead Penny Goold). It will provide a standardised method of assessing competency for doctors and nurses working in the community or in specialised services. ‘STIF Intermediate’ is already up and running and follows on from previous work (lead Jackie Sherrard and Claudia Estcourt) to develop formal training and assessment for primary care staff. STIF level 1 will be in an OSCE station format. STIF competency level 2, under development, will assess at a higher level. Those assessed as competent will be certified as such by BASHH, and will require re-certification after 5 years.

Work is underway mapping the competencies for nurse training. Nurse education is a priority area for the EC for the coming year (lead Colin Roberts and Jane Bickford). Richard Lau and the Pharmacy Special Interest Group (SIG) are addressing issues of pharmacist training.

Other educational initiatives have included a review of the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) programme (lead Melinda Tenant-Flowers) resulting in changing to four OGMs a year plus a HIV focus meeting. Times have been altered slightly to reflect members' needs. The overall themes for OGMs will be guided by the EC, but SIGs will remain responsible for delivery. There will be clear learning objectives, to fit in with the Royal College of Physicians continuing professional development requirements.

Links with medical students through their organisation Sexpression have been established (lead John Saunders). Richard Lau's excellent St George's programme of ‘taster days’ in GUM for junior doctors is to be disseminated more widely by the EC.

The Sexual Dysfunction SIG (lead David Goldmeier) has developed a biannual ABC meeting, consisting of standardised talks. The Human Papilloma Virus SIG (lead Nathan Mayura) is running courses on biopsy techniques. The HIV SIG (lead Simon Edwards) is working with BHIVA on updating the HIV revision course, to reflect the diploma in HIV becoming mandatory in the new GUM curriculum (2010). Revision of the STI/HIV course (lead Vincent Lee) is at an advanced stage, and will become more skills and attitudes based, with more knowledge provided by eHIV-STI.

Sris Allan continues with his excellent doctors-in-training course, and the Staff Grade and Associate Specialist conference (Nick Theobald/Helen Bailey) continues to provide a tailor-made educational event for these doctors.

Much other work is being undertaken by members of the EC and the SIGs associated with it. Special mention must be given to the Bacterial SIG (lead Cathy Ison) and their microscopy courses and high-quality training DVD. The Health Protection Agency/BASHH Fellowship programme has been updated and remains popular.

Finally, the Spring Conference (lead Liz Foley) continues to be of high quality, and further joint meetings with other specialist societies are planned.

As access to, and funding for, study leave become more difficult, the EC will ensure that BASHH continues to deliver a high-quality educational programme relevant to members' needs. Accessibility of OGMs will be increased by the provision of presentations as slides on the BASHH website. Further information on all these initiatives is available on the BASHH website. The EC welcomes comments and ideas for further improvements in the education provided.