The new diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health

Abstract

Who is it for?

The new Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (DFSRH) is a recognised qualification for any healthcare professional who is interested in sexual and reproductive health. Although this encompasses a wide range of healthcare professions (full list on website) (Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) 2020a), there are more specific requirements, including:

Having proof of resuscitation and anaphylaxis training and certification (e.g. ALS)

Being able to perform a speculum examination competently

Being able to give an intramuscular and subcutaneous injection

Doctors are able to self-certify for the above requirements.

When do you do it?

I started the DFSRH a few weeks into my first year as a GP specialist trainee, during my 6-month obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) rotation. It took me 4 months to complete the diploma.

Why did you do it?

Although I found my O&G rotation useful for general practice, it was ultimately rooted in secondary care rather than in the community. As a result, my experience of patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or family planning problems would have been limited had I not been encouraged by a supportive clinical supervisor to consider the DFSRH for my development as a GP.

How much effort was it?

The DFSRH consists of three components:

An online open-book assessment (£75)

A 1-day assessed course

Several clinical sessions with a certified trainer for competency signoffs (£450–£700)

The fees for the latter two components are set locally. All three components must be completed through an ePortfolio before the diploma is awarded (total fees ∼£750). I was fortunate enough to have negotiated with my O&G department for weekly sessions with the local community sexual health service where I fulfilled my learning requirements for the diploma.

Is there an exam?

After completing the 18 e-learning theory modules (FSRH, 2020b), there is an open-book, online multiple-choice question exam consisting of 100 questions to be completed in 2 hours. There is also an informal practical assessment done on the same day as the 1-day ‘Course of 5’, whereby trainers assess a number of competencies that need to be possessed by the candidate, including counselling for STIs and human immunodeficiency virus screening, male and female contraceptive options and managing young people. Since the new DFSRH started in spring 2020, there have been plans to standardise the practical assessment into a half-day ‘OSCE-style’ assessment (FSRH, 2020c). It is also noteworthy that there is an overall time limit of 3 years between passing the online exam and finishing the DFSRH and a limit of 2 years between each of the three components.

Is there a course?

The 1-day ‘Course of 5’ is an essential part of the DFSRH; it touches on the key competencies as well as incorporating an assessment throughout the day (£450). However, the session is relatively informal with the trainers and students getting to know each other during the day.

Non-essential, but helpful, courses include the 1–2 day Foundation course on STIs run by the STI Foundation (£150–£300) (STI Foundation, 2020) as well as the Essentials for Primary Care, a 1-day course run by the FSRH (£45 -£165) (FRSH, 2020c). Fees are set locally.

I attended the Essentials for Primary Care course held in London (£165). It was a full-day interactive course with the morning spent on all methods of contraception as well as emergency contraception and the afternoon spent on common STIs seen in the community. I found the course a perfect fit to my learning needs and the upcoming assessments, as it gave me a firm understanding of the core concepts in community sexual and reproductive health without being overly detailed. I have kept the course notes provided from the session, which helped tremendously for the online exam.

Top tip

Contact a registered trainer as soon as possible. This will enable you to arrange the mandatory supervised clinical sessions and map out your timeline for completing the DFSRH. I found this to be the biggest obstacle in getting started and would not have completed the diploma on time without the support of my DFSRH trainer.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely, it was well worth my time and money. In addition to the fact that I got to complete most of the diploma during my official working hours, the ‘Course of 5’ and the clinical supervision components of the DFSRH were completely covered by the reformed trainee study budget (Health Education England, 2020), meaning that my out-of-pocket costs were significantly lower than any other clinical diploma available (∼£325).

For my knowledge and skills, I have found the DFSRH to be invaluable. It has raised my confidence when it comes to dealing with community sexual health matters, both in general practice and in secondary care. I now feel more comfortable holding conversations with my patients that I used to find embarrassing.

Footnotes

ORCID iD

Ernest Wong

References

FSRH (2020a) Who is eligible to take the new FSRH diploma. Available at: www.fsrh.org/faqs/who-is-eligible-to-take-the-new-fsrh-diploma (accessed 30 November 2020).

FSRH (2020b) e-Learning for sexual and reproductive healthcare (eSRH). Available at: www.fsrh.org/education-and-training/e-learning-for-sexual-and-reproductive-healthcare-esrh/#how-to-access-esrh (accessed 30 November 2020).

FSRH (2020c) What is the new FSRH diploma assessment half-day? Available at: www.fsrh.org/faqs/what-is-the-new-fsrh-diploma-assessment-half-day (accessed 30 November 2020).

Health Education England (2020) Study budgets – England. Available at: https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/studybudget (accessed 30 November 2020).

STI Foundation (2020) For STIF course attendees. Available at: www.stif.org.uk/STIF/STIF_Course_Attendees.aspx?&WebsiteKey=b5d8d952-6e41-41ce-9d36-d9f1453a8608&hkey=f46dd40a-8357-45a2-a9a5-8ac95daa74a8 (accessed 30 November 2020).