ST3 interviews are extremely competitive and achieving the highest possible score is essential in securing the surgical training post of choice. The key to success in these interviews is through diligent preparation.
This book outlines the structure and format of the ST3 general surgical interviews, with chapters dedicated to each component area that is assessed on the day. Written in an engaging style, it provides an essential resource for the interviews, with all of the required material in one book, a bonus for many readers with time constraints imposed by a demanding work schedule. It is aimed at instilling prospective surgeons with the tools and confidence needed to succeed at the ST3 general surgical interview. Success in these structured interviews will lead to the award of a 'national training number'.
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Yes, you can access Cracking the General Surgical Interviews for ST3 by Sala Abdalla,Amber Shivarajan,Kaushiki Singh in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Medicine & Medical Theory, Practice & Reference. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
The portfolio is one of the critical components of the ST3 recruitment process. It is a collection of evidence designed to show that the applicant meets the person specification requirements for the specialist training program in general and vascular surgery.
THE PERSON SPECIFICATION
The person specification for ST3 sets out the desirable traits and achievements that the ideal candidate would have. It is released every year and is worth reading to help you prepare for the interview. Here is a summary of the key points in the person specification.
The ideal candidate would demonstrate evidence of the following:
Career progression
Achievement of the competencies as listed in the Core Surgical Training Curriculum
Clinical skills
Application of sound clinical knowledge and judgment to problems
Appropriate prioritization of clinical need
Technical and clinical competence
Diagnostic skills and clinical judgment
Research and audit skills
Understanding of audit, clinical risk management and evidence-based practice
Knowledge of basic research principles, methodology and ethics
Contribution to audit
Teaching
Participation in teaching others
Communication skills
Ability to communicate with others productively and considerately
Ability to discuss management options with patients in an effective manner
Problem-solving and decision-making
The use of a range of problem-solving methods
Development of suitable judgment and decision-making skills
Managing others and team involvement
Leadership skills
Management skills
Working successfully with colleagues and in a multidisciplinary team
Organizing and planning
Time management and appropriate prioritization of workload
Ability to balance urgent demands and follow instructions
Understanding the importance and use of information systems
Vigilance and situational awareness
Anticipating situations that may arise and preparing for them accordingly
Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty
Working efficiently under pressure
Working effectively in highly emotive situations
Being aware of oneās limitations
Knowing when to ask for help
Values
Knowledge of the values of the national health service (NHS) which are:
Improving lives
Commitment to quality of care
Respect and dignity
Compassion
Working together for patients
Probity
Taking responsibility for their actions
Understanding ethical principles including safety, confidentiality and consent
Commitment to specialty
Having a realistic insight into general and vascular surgery and the personal demands of training in surgery
Understanding the training program
Being committed to oneās development
The various aspects of the portfolio and the questions that can be asked in the portfolio station are designed to elicit the various features listed in the specification.
THE PORTFOLIO
The portfolio is fully prepared and submitted before the interview, and so it is the one part of the interview process which can be controlled entirely by the applicant. Early preparation is vital for success in the portfolio station. The portfolio requirements are updated each year and can be found in the applicantās handbook on the specialty recruitment website. It is essential to read this handbook before the application to ensure that the current standards are met.
Overall, there are specific portfolio requirements that do not change significantly from year to year. This chapter will cover the separate areas of the portfolio in detail. The portfolio station requirements for several previous years have been analyzed, and details have been provided on each requirement. The portfolio station for any given year will include a combination of these.
It is necessary to start preparing evidence for the portfolio at least several months, ideally years, in advance. Evidence can be used from the beginning of medical training.
Awareness of the requirements of the portfolio is essential so that any missing areas can be acquired before the interview.
THE FORMAT OF THE PORTFOLIO STATION
There are two aspects to the portfolio station. The first is the content of the portfolio which will be assessed and marked. Usually, the portfolio is submitted ahead of the interview. The second aspect is your ability to answer questions about your career in general. The candidate will usually spend 10 minutes answering such questions.
The first part of this chapter looks at the portfolio requirements, and the second part looks at the questions that may be asked.
Portfolio requirements and evidence which can be supplied for each
The surgical logbook
This section is an important part and looks at the numbers of index procedures performed by the applicant.
These numbers should be recorded in an electronic format. A consolidation sheet from a validated logbook can be used as evidence of the number of procedures performed by the applicant. Electronic āEā-logbook is an example of a standard website used for this purpose in the United Kingdom.
The āindex proceduresā are the essential procedures that applicants to the specialty training program are expected to have. These procedures can vary from year to year and include appendicectomies (laparoscopic and/or open), repair of inguinal hernias, emergency laparotomy, groin exploration, laparotomy incision and closure, laparoscopic port placement and closure, and cholecystectomy. Appendicectomies and inguinal hernias make the list each year, so these are the two procedures to mainly target during clinical placements before the interview.
Different points can be given to the number of these procedures performed and whether they were performed supervised or unsupervised by the trainer.
Work-based assessments (WBAs) such as DOPS (direct observation of procedural skills) or PBAs (procedure-based assessments) signed off by consultants can be used to supplement the logbook evidenceāthese are forms available on the intercollegiate surgical curriculum programme (ISCP) website. Often, a higher number of points are available for WBAs performed at a level 3 or 4 which denote greater competence. This section aims to show the acquisition of at least a CT2 level skill in these procedures.
Publications
Only papers that have been published in PubMed-indexed journals and have a PMID (PubMed identifier) are awarded points.
These can include papers published during medical school or previous degrees.
Case reports receive fewer points, and in some years, they have not been included at all in the assessment.
Published abstracts, letters or technical tips are not included here.
Maximum points are available for first author publications, although some points may still be awarded for authorship in any other position on the author list.
Presentations
These include oral or poster presentations given at regional, national, or international conferences.
The candidate must be a listed author for the presentation to be eligible for points.
It is worthwhile submitting presentations each year to conferences such as ASIT (Association of Surgeons in Training) annual conference and the ASGBI (Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland) annual conference which highly encourage trainee input.
Maximum points are available for oral national and inter...
