A curriculum for SHO training--what is it and why has it changed?

The Royal Colleges of Physicians have revised the core curriculum for SHOs in medicine and the medical specialties to make it objective based. The objectives, knowledge, skills and attitudes for 'core skills' use ward based and outpatient clinical scenarios in specialty areas. There are also important sections on 'generic skills' including communication skills, team-working skills etc., cross-specialty areas, training in practical procedures and selection of investigations. Only in up to 41% of posts do SHOs in medicine get regular appraisal. A new appraisal replacing the personal training record has been designed to help SHOs reflect on their experience and identify gaps in their training using the revised curriculum. The new edition of the core curriculum should also allow the RCPs to set standards on the assessment of competence of SHOs to inform the postgraduate deans' SHO RITA process.