Guidance Notes For Referees

Section A must be completed by the Applicant.

Sections B – G must be completed by the Referee.

As a Referee you MUST:
• be on a European Union (EU) / National Specialist Register
• have direct experience of the applicant’s current clinical practice within the last 3 years

The European Board of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EBOT) under European Union rules specifies the levels of expertise to be anticipated at entry and at various stages in training and defines the standards of competence expected on completion of the training programmes, according to the minimal requirements for orthopaedic residence by the European Board of Orthoapedics and Traumatology (EBOT). Candidates will be required to provide verification that this level has been reached in their clinical experience prior to sitting the European Board of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EBOT) examination.

It is important to the EBOT Examining Committee that you, in giving your support, are fully aware of the standards which apply to the appropriate discipline at the end of the training programme. Please note that the description of these standards should be taken as a guide to assist you in formulating your reference for the applicant irrespective of his/her position in clinical practice or in a training programme.

The examination will be conducted in two sections. Section 1 (Multiple Choice Questions in the format of Single Correct Answer [SCA] Section 2 (clinicals –scenario based).Candidates must meet the required standard in Section 1 to gain eligibility toproceed to Section 2.

The examination will assess various elements of applied knowledge, diagnostic skills, clinical judgment and professionalism. Referees are therefore asked to comment specifically on these elements of an applicant’s competence to ensure that candidates have attained the requisite standard in these domains.

Diagnostic skills (Reference Section C)
We require your detailed comments on the candidate’s suitability with respect to:

• Skilled, logical and analytical elucidation of a patient’s history.
• Careful acquisition and processing of information determined in the physical and clinical examination and construction of a satisfactory management plan for all patients.

Please note that candidates will face assessment scenarios which may be complex and demanding and applicants must have satisfied you that they have the necessary skills and experience to deal with patients and situations which are not straightforward or routine. It is expected that discussion will take place in the examination on aspects of diagnostic strategy and on the use, advantages and disadvantages of various relevant investigations. You should therefore be in a position to indicate that your support is based on knowledge of the candidate’s ability in these areas.

Clinical Management (Reference Section D)
Given the range of cases, the spectrum of complexity and the ability to deal with variations and complications within the practice of this specialty – candidates should have been able to convince you that their training / experience is such that they can safely manage both common and more complex clinical problems.

Operative skills (Reference Section E)
While the EBOTExamination does not formally assess technical operating ability the Boards consider it inappropriate to admit candidates to the examination if there is any doubt as to their technical skill. It is therefore considered very important that your support in this area is well founded either from your personal observations and experience of the candidate or from reliable and systematically assessed observations of the candidate’s ability in this area. The logbook of surgical procedures on its own should not be considered as any more than a rough guide.

Professionalism and Probity (Reference Section F)
The development of a mature and professional approach to performance in clinical practice is essential for safe and successful patient care. Attitudes towards patients and colleagues, their work ethic, their ability to deal with stressful or even confrontational issues and the effectiveness of their communication skills in providing supportive care for patients and their families are indicative of the professional qualities required of a candidate.

Submission of Structured Reference Forms
Structured Reference Forms must be completed in typed format and signed and returned to the applicant.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all 2 structured references are submitted with the application form.
1. Head of training in the Hospital
2. Surgeon responsible for your training