- Background
- Objectives of the STIs Certificate
Course
- Teaching Methods Used
- End of Course Assessment
- Course Duration
- Eligibility Criteria
- Selection of Candidates
- Course Fees
- Requirements for Course Completion
- Outcomes of the Course
- About IASSTD & AIDS
- About COTTISA
- About RCSHA
- Course Faculty
- Topics to be covered in the Course
- Instructions for filling
application form
- Download the STI application
form
Background
The STI Certificate Course brings together some of
the most experienced experts in STIs and HIV/AIDS in
India, working alongside Overseas faculty who have been
running the successful Consortium of Thai Training Institutes
Course in Thailand. It is orientated towards the practical
application of STI and HIV / AIDS management and relates
directly to managing cases within primary care. It uses
a variety of interactive training techniques, with an
emphasis on developing good communication skills and
being able to interact with both National and International
faculty
The importance of STIs in the context of the HIV epidemic
cannot be overstated and the need for well trained professionals
to be the ‘first port of call’ for patients
is great.
Objectives
of the STIs Certificate Course
The course covers a syllabus with a strong emphasis
on hands-on clinical training and some laboratory correlation.
There will be additional input from overseas faculty.
It is not aimed at specialists in STIs but rather at
any doctor who sees STIs as part of their work and would
like to gain a more in-depth understanding or develop
a special interest in STI patients.
The aims are:
- to provide medical practitioners with an opportunity
to gain a sound in-depth knowledge of STIs and HIV.
- to achieve a high level of competence in STIs and
HIV/AIDS management through both theoretical and hands-on
practical training.
- to promote holistic quality STI care with special
emphasis on physical examination, counselling, prevention
methods and partner treatment.
What are STIs? :
STIs are a group of diseases transmitted essentially
through sexual contact. The causative agents are several
viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungal agents. All STIs,
can be prevented and most can be cured. Many, however,
have no symptoms.
Complications of STIs :
The consequences of most STIs can be devastating on
both men and women, mainly resulting from structural
damage that arises from the infection spreading to another
part of the body from the point of infection. This impact
is likely to be more on women compared to men.
STIs & HIV:
Ulcerative or non-ulcerative Sexually Transmissible
Infections (STIs) both enhance HIV transmission among
carriers and increase the risk of acquiring HIV. This
has been shown in a number of International trials,
the most famous of which was carried out in Mwanza,
Tanzania
(a randomized community trial – Lancet 1995; 346:530-536)).
This trial clearly illustrated the impact of effective
STI management on reducing the HIV epidemic. The risk
of HIV infection among STD clinic attendees is thought
to be around 10% per year in India. This increase is
not confined to people with high risk behaviour but
is also spreading into the population at large.
Therefore, the correct diagnosis and treatment of
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can not only
prevent serious long-term morbidities but has also long
been acknowledged to be an essential pillar of HIV prevention.
Most people suffering from a STI will, however, first
visit a primary practitioner who may not be trained
in STI diagnosis and management, leading to incorrect
treatment of STIs or, indeed, no treatment for STIs
at all.
Treatment seeking in India is determined by a number
of variables, among which are: perceived seriousness
and causality of symptoms; availability and accessibility
of Health Care; costs (including opportunity costs)
of treatment; perceived and actual quality of care;
and beliefs about the appropriate provider to consult.
Health Care Provider surveys (done
by Family Health International in a number of States
in India – 1999-2000) have revealed gaps
in practice especially in: a) Sexual history taking,
b) physical examination, c) low levels of knowledge
regarding syndromic management and prescription of effective
drugs as per NACO guidelines d) counselling, e) practice
of advising STI patients on consistent usage of condoms,
f) partner notification and g) treatment.
In addition, a recent small rapid assessment of private
practitioners (RCSHA & Mode. A`Rapid Assessment
of STI practices among private practitioners. 2006)
showed that nearly 90% of the practitioners showed their
willingness to have further training on effective treatment
of STI, going beyond the syndromic management model.
Furthermore, the study showed that a large number of
practitioners were already using laboratory diagnosis
of STIs to some extent and were not relying solely on
syndromic management.
There is therefore a strong case for providing basic
training to doctors on syndromic management, history
taking, examination and counselling along with further
training on laboratory techniques and the individual
STIs in detail.
Finally, practitioners need to have a clear idea of
when onward referral to the specialists is required
for both STIs and HIV, as these practitioners are the
first port of call for many patients.
This course is designed to address all the needs sited
above.
Teaching Methods Used
Numerous modes of teaching will be used in this course:
- Lectures
- On-site clinic training with patients
- On-site lab training
- Practical sessions to practice skills on plastic
models
- Group discussion
- Interactive role play
- More informal question and answer sessions with
faculty, both national and international.
End of Course Assessment
Participants will end the course with an informal
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and
Multiple Choice Question examination.
Course Duration
It is a nine-day residential course starting from Saturday
24th February to Sunday March 4th 2007
Venue: Hotel Shan Royal, 85, Poonamallee
High Road, Koyambedu, Chennai 600 107 (Tel: 044-26221212
email: contact@hotelshanroyal.com
)
Eligibility
Criteria
- Basic qualification should be M.B.B.S.,
- Any physician working in the government, private
or NGO sector that is seeing or has an interest in
seeing STI patients.
Number of Participants per Course:
The number of participants has been restricted to a
maximum of only 30 participants per course. Numbers
are restricted to ensure small groups for the more practical
sessions.
Selection
of Candidates
Completed application forms from candidates will be
scrutinised by a Special committee nominated for this
purpose using specific criteria. The decision of the
committee is final.
Course Fees
Course fee of Rs. 2,500.00/= to be
paid as A/C Payee Draft in favour of ‘IASSTD &
AIDS” payable at Chennai, on receipt of selection
intimation by the participant and send to the Course
Coordinators on or before 15th February 2007
The course fees includes accommodation, food , course-
material , visits to selected NGO clinics for hands
–on training, welcome dinner, participation certificate.
Important Dates for the Third STIs Certificate
Course:
Last date of receipt of filled-in application form :
5th February 2007
Date of intimation of selection for the Course :
10th February 2007
to the participant
Last date for sending acceptance and
payment of course fees by the participant :
15th February 2007
Requirements for Course Completion
- 100% attendance for the 9-day course
- Hands on experience in relevance to the Course
Programme
- Satisfactory performance in the Objective Structured
Clinical Examination and MCQs examination at the end
of the Course.
Outcomes of the Course
- The participants who fulfill the requirements of
Course completion will be awarded the STIs (including
HIV) Course Certificate from the IASSTD & AIDS.
- Each participant will be given an Interactive DVD
for further study around STIs and HIV management
- The participants will have the knowledge and skills
to identify, diagnose and treat the STIs in the course
of their practice, thereby reducing the complications
of untreated or inadequately treated STIs which eventually
lead to prevention of HIV.
- They would become part of a mutually supportive
STIs/ HIV care network as a result of contacts developed
through the faculty members and members of IASSTD
& AIDS.
About IASSTD & AIDS
Indian Association for the Study of Sexually Transmitted
Diseases & AIDS ( IASSTD & AIDS) is in existence
for more than 3 decades and there are about 850 members,
both National and Overseas. These include Professors
in teaching, training and treating STIs in most of the
Medical Colleges, members in advisory committees to
suggest guidelines for the treatment schedules etc.
IASSTD & AIDS co-ordinates and assists the activities
not only of physicians practicing in the subject and
other related subjects but also of epidemiologists,
psychiatrists, psychologists, public health nurses,
social workers and all concerned with human behaviour
and its effects on the spread of STDs and HIV /AIDS
by conducting several training programmes / workshops
for the above disciplines.
IASSTD & AIDS holds Annual National Conference,
consisting of several Orations, Guest Lectures, Scientific
Sessions, Award Papers, Poster sessions and scientific
quiz programmes.
The Association publishes an indexed Journal biannually
entitled the ‘The Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted
Diseases’ (IJSTD).
About COTTISA
The Confederation of Thai Training Institutes for Sexual
Health and AIDS is a collaborative project involving
6 Thai Medical schools, which in collaboration with
Thai Ministry of Public Health have developed a Diploma
Course in Sexual Health (STI and HIV). This course was
developed in collaboration with senior Genitourinary
Physicians from the UK and initially funded by the British
Council. The current course co-ordinators are Dr Chavalit
Mangkalaviraj, Department of Disease Control, Thai Ministry
of Public Health and Dr Verapol Chandeying (Head of
Dept of Obs and Gynae, Prince of Songkla University,
Hat Yai, Thailand.
COTTISA has conducted 4-weekly courses for the past
16 years, with close collaboration from senior GUM physicians
from the UK (currently Dr Ratish Basu Roy, Dr Hari Harindra
and Dr Imtyaz Ahmed-Jushuf) who also participate in
curriculum development, teaching and examination for
the diploma course. The course regularly attracts 25-35
clinicians from over 11 South East Asian countries (including
India) and has been consistently evaluated very highly
by the course participants.
COTTISA has pledged to support IASSTD & AIDS in
their efforts to develop a certificate course for Sexually
Transmitted Infections and conduct the same with the
support of the Resource Centre for Sexual Health and
HIV/AIDS (RCSHA), together with support from senior
UK based Genitourinary physicians with extensive experience
of conducting teaching programmes in South East Asia
About RCSHA
The Resource Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS
has been set up by the Department for International
Development (India) with the objectives of strengthening
the capacity within India to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
RCSHA works through partners both in the governmental
and non governmental sectors as well as some of the
large teaching institutions in the country.
Course Faculty
- The Faculty members are predominantly members of
IASSTD & AIDS who have worked at the planning
or implementing STIs / HIV interventions at their
State levels.
- All the faculty members have competence in areas
such as development communication, social research,
clinical management, training etc.
- Some have provided inputs to the National AIDS
Control Programmes.
- Together, they have an extensive experience of
research, strategic planning, programme management,
clinical medicine and public health.
Faculty Members
Dr.N.Usman - Former Prof & Director, Institute
of Venereology, Madras Medical College, Chennai President
- Elect (2006-2007), IASSTD & AIDS
Dr.Bhushan Kumar - Former Prof., Dept. of Dermato-venereology,
Chandigarh
Past President, IASSTD & AIDS
Dr.Yogesh S Marfatia - Prof. & HOD, Dept. of Dermato-venereology,
Vadodara
Past President, IASSTD & AIDS
Dr.D.M.Thappa - Prof. & HOD, Dept. of Dermato-venereology,
JIPMER,Pondichery
President (2006-2007), IASSTD & AIDS
Dr.M.Balasubramanian - Former Deputy Director (STD),
Tamilnadu State AIDS Control Society, Chennai
Dr.R.Ganesh - Former Prof. & HOD, Dept. of Venereology,
Madurai Medical College, Madurai
Dr.Mukul Sharma - Prof. & HOD, Dept. of Dermato-venereology,
Govt. Medical College, Kota
Dr.K.Venkateswaran - Asst.Prof., Institute of Venereology,
Madras Medical College, Chennai Secretary, IASSTD &
AIDS
Dr.K.Mahadevan - HOD, Dept of Venereology, Coimbatore
Medical College, Coimbatore
Dr.(Lt Col)Anup Singh Gurung – Army Medical Corps
(Retd.), Consultant HIV / AIDS RCSHA
Overseas Faculty:
Dr. Imtyaz Ahmed - Consultant in GUM /HIV, Dept. of
GU Medicine, Nottingham City Hospital, U.K. Vice President,
BASHH
Dr.Verapol Chandeying - Dept. of OB-GYN, Faculty of
Medicine, Prince of Songkia University, Thailand Secretary,
Consortium of Thai Training Institutes for STDs and
AIDS (COTTISA)
Dr.Veerakanthy Harindra - Clinical Director, Dept.
of G U medicine, St.Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth,
UK
Dr.Shailendra - Research Registrar, STI Research Centre,
Weastmead Hospital, Sydney
Dr.Ratish Basu Roy - Hony. Consultant in GU/HIV Medicine,
Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, U.K
RCSHA Staff:
Dr Thomas Philip, Dr (Lt Col) Anup Singh Gurung, Dr
Meena Gandhi and Ms Sucheta Rawat
Course Coordinators:
Dr.T.Ram Manohar Rao - Consultant in STD/HIV, Chennai
Past President, IASSTD & AIDS
Dr.G.Chandrasekhara Rao - Consultant in STD/HIV, Chennai
Treasurer, IASSTD & AIDS
Address for all correspondences:
5 / A2, Fifth Street
Nandanam Extension
Chennai 600 035 (Tamilnadu)
Tel: 044-24355645 / 044-24332466
Mobile: 0-98410 02435 / 0-98840 70611
FAX: 044-24332466
email: drgcrao@gmail.com
/ rmlprao@gmail.com
TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE COURSE
| |
Session
Titles |
Learning
Objectives |
| Day
1 |
Practical aspects of the National AIDS Control
Programme.
Sexual History Taking.
Attitudes and counselling within an STI consultation.
Anatomy of the Male and Female Genital tracts.
Overview of STIs and STIs syndromes.
Practical session 1: Male and female
examination (mannequin practice) and informal
question and answers to the faculty
|
- To get a broad overview of the epidemiology
of STIs and HIV in India and the National response
to the epidemics in all its' stages. The practitioner
should be clear about 'where they are positioned'
in relation to the other supporting services
available to them in the country.
- To feel comfortable in initiating and taking
a comprehensive sexual history and in carrying
out a genital examination.
- To understand the principles of counselling
STI patients, including contact tracing, safe
sex etc.
- To gain a broad overview of the common STIs
and the common STI syndromes
|
| Day
2 |
Herpes
Simplex Virus, other genital ulcer diseases, syphilis.
Attitudes and counseling in HIV
Practical session 2: Attitudes and communication
skills (role play and ice breakers)
Practical session 3: Sexual History Taking (interactive
role play)
Informal question and answers with faculty |
- To know about genital ulcer diseases, including
HSV and syphilis and be competent in their management
based on etiological diagnosis (if laboratory
facilities are available.)
- To allow physicians to examine some of their
own attitudes towards HIV patients, to break
down some myths and misconceptions and to include
the key features of voluntary counselling and
testing and breaking bad news.
|
| Day
3
|
Candida,
Trichomonas Vaginalis, Bacterial Vaginosis, Gonorrhoea,
Chlamydia, Human Papilloma Virus.
Laboratory sessions: VDRL tests and their implications;
laboratory techniques
Practical session 4: Practical specimen
collection and microscopy
Film Show |
- To know about the common sexually transmitted
infections and be competent in their management
based on etiological diagnosis (if laboratory
facilities are available)
- To understand the principles of the common
laboratory tests for STIs, to be able to take
the relevant swabs to test for STIs and to be
able to take a cervical smear test.
|
| Day
4 |
Consequences
of Untreated STIs including the relationship between
STIs and HIV
Prevention of STIs with special emphasis on role
of condoms.
The syndromic management of STIs
Natural history and diagnosis of HIV infection
Practical session 5: Syndromic management
of STIs (interactive role plays and case discussion)
Practical session 6: Syndromic management
of STIs and Etiological management of STIs (case
discussion)
|
- To be clear about the consequences of STIs
and their relationship to HIV.
- To be comfortable and competent in counselling
on preventing STIs including demonstrating how
to use a condom.
- To know about all the STI syndromes and be
competent in their management.
- To be familiar with natural history and pathology
associated with HIV infection as well as diagnostic
methods.
|
| Day
5 |
Universal
precautions in HIV and post exposure prophylaxis.
Overview of opportunistic infections in HIV.
HIV and TB
Counselling in HIV with an emphasis on nutrition
and adherence
Clinic Visit 1
Practical session 7: HIV pre and post
test counseling and breaking bad news (interactive
role play) |
- To be familiar with the use of universal precautions
as a practitioner, including principles of waste
disposal.
- To get an overview of the common opportunistic
infections in HIV
- To understand the relationship between HIV
and TB and the management issues.
- To be familiar with holistic approach to the
management of HIV patients.
- To be comfortable and competent in all aspects
of counselling on pre and post test HIV.
|
| Day
6 |
HAART
Stigma and discrimination in HIV
Psychological disorders in STI practice
Clinic Visit 2
Practical session 8: Interactive session
with People living with HIV/AIDS |
- To be familiar with the principles of ART
- To understand the issues around the stigma
and discrimination of people living with HIV
- To know about common psychological sexual
disorders and be able to begin management of
these.
|
| Day
7 |
CSWs
Ethical, Social and Legal issues
Global Challenges in STI/HIV
What’s new in STIs/HIV ?
ART toxicity
STIs and other sexual practices
Sexual minorities/Men who have sex with Men
Clinical aspects of dealing with MSMs
Practical session 10: ART/STI
Clinic Visit 3
Practical session 9: Informal interaction
with MSM groups and informal question and answers
to faculty |
- To sensitise the attitude and values of health
care professional towards issues of the sexual
minorities, especially MSM.
- To enable the practitioner to elicit a relevant
sexual history in this group and to carry out
a competent clinical examination.
|
| Day
8 |
Clinical
prescription writing
Optional revision session
MCQ Exam
Objective Structured Clinical Examination 1 (Slide
OSCEs) |
- To provide some background into working with
commercial sex workers
- To understand the legal, social and ethical
issues around HIV management in relation to
the primary practitioner.
- To be aware of the new developments in STIs/HIV
and the global challenges.
- To be comfortable in writing prescriptions
for 1st line ART and for STIs.
|
| Day
9 |
Objective
Structured Clinical Examination 2 Valedictory
and Distribution of Certificates |
|
Interactive role play on
- simulated consultation- sexual history taking
- HIV pre-post test counselling
- simulated consultation- Breaking bad news
partner notification
Role Play / STI case scenarios with overseas faculty
In addition, there will be special sessions on ‘how
to deal with high risk groups’ and ‘sex
and sexuality’.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING
APPLICATION FORM
Complete, typed or neatly filled (In Capital Letters)
and signed applications, along with the following supporting
documents, must reach the coordinators at the address
mentioned below, by 15th February 2007
The completed application should include:
- Curriculum Vitae of the Applicant
- Two Passport size Photographs of the applicant
- One copy to be affixed in the application form /
One copy to be sent in a separate cover
- Photocopy of Degree Certificate
- Photocopy of Medical Council Registration Certificate
- Course fee of Rs.2,500.00/= to be paid as A/C Payee
Draft in favour of ‘IASSTD & AIDS”
payable at Chennai, on receipt of selection intimation
by the participant and send to the Course Coordinators
on or before
15th February 2007
Submit materials by registered post / courier
to Course Coordinators:
Dr.G.Chandrasekhara Rao
Dr.T.Ram Manohar Rao
5 / A2, Fifth Street
Nandanam Extension
Chennai 600 035 (Tamilnadu)
Tel: 044-24355645 / 044-24332466 Mobile:
98410 02435 / 98840 70611 FAX: 044-24332466
email: drgcrao@gamil.com
/ rmlprao@gmail.com
(Submission through email is encouraged, followed by
completed application through registered post)
Last date of receipt of filled-in application form
: 5th February 2007
Date of intimation of selection for the Course to the
applicant
:10th February 2007
Last Date for acceptance and payment of course fees
by the participant
: 15th February 2007
If DD and acceptance letter are not received by 15th
February by Course Coordinators, the candidate forfeits
his/her selection
Dates of the STIs Certificate Course : 24th
February to 4th March 2007
|
