Assessment of training in psychosexual medicine

The Institute of Psychosexual Medicine offers training in the treatment of psychosexual problems to medically qualified doctors. Training takes place in fortnightly seminars in which trainees present and discuss real cases. Assessment of cases presented at the beginning and end of the six term basic training showed appreciable improvement in doctors' abilities. The proportion of doctors meeting each of the 14 predetermined clinical objectives rose. Factors which affected the amount of improvement were the initial score, the number of cases presented at the seminars, the occupation of the leader, and the duration of training. Accreditation by the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine was shown to be an appropriate outcome measure for the achievement of the required standards for practising psychosexual medicine.