Professional development in reproductive and sexual health - a pilot studyfrom Suffolk, UK

Staff from two neighbouring trusts working in the fields of family planning and sexual health worked together to develop joint guidelines and from thi s evolved a training initiative. It was acknowledged that staff were either primarily trained in family planning or in the management of sexually tran smitted infections (STI) and therefore the training would be interdisciplin ary. In line with current educational thinking it was also decided to make it multiprofessional. A pilot training pi-eject was therefore set up to ans wer the question 'can self directed learning combined with facilitated smal l group study sessions provide theoretical updating for a range of health p rofessionals within the field of reproductive and sexual health'. The pr-eject aimed to increase theoretical knowledge of contraception, sexu ally transmitted infections and termination of pregnancy for all relevant n ursing and medical staff working within the two trusts. The stated outcome of the project was for all staff to achieve a wider core knowledge of the i dentified topics, regardless of whether their primary training and knowledg e base was in family planning or sexually transmitted infection. The projec t spanned five months and offered professional development packages in horm onal contraception, non-hormonal contraception, termination of pregnancy, b acterial and minor STIs and viral STIs. The pilot project was well received and the process was shown to be an effe ctive way of increasing the knowledge base. The knowledge shift was greates t in the opposing discipline to the primary discipline of each participant. There were added advantages in team building for staff within the same tru st and networking across trusts. The strengths and weaknesses of the proces s were identified and used to develop ideas for future professional develop ment initiatives.