On this page:
Course overview
Eligibility
Schedule and fees
Enrolment
Contact
Course
overview
Introduction
The CLEAR program was developed by the Royal Australasian
College of Surgeons in 2000 to assist surgeons in the learning of
evidence based surgical practice.
Provider course
CLEAR is designed to provide tools to undertake critical
appraisal of surgical literature and to assist surgeons in the
conduct of clinical trials. These 'hands on' courses aim to make
the language and methodology relevant to surgeons and the
day-to-day activities in their practice.
Consultants course
In 2015, the CLEAR course for consultants was
introduced. The course aims to provide Fellows with the tools
to undertake critical appraisal of surgical literature and assist
surgeons in the conduct of clinical trials.
This consultant oriented CLEAR course focuses on topics such as
running a journal club, supervision of trainee research and
application of evidence in practice.
Target audience
The CLEAR provider course is available to Trainees and
non-RACS-affiliated healthcare professionals.
The CLEAR consultants course is available to Fellows
only.
Objectives
The CLEAR provider course enables doctors to:
- Ask answerable clinical questions
- Find and critically appraise literature efficiently
- Understand study methodologies
- Extract numerical information from literature
- Apply evidence to surgical practice
- Develop sound foundations for conducting research
- Incorporate current research into practice
- Identify areas where good evidence is lacking and future
research necessary
The CLEAR consultants course enables surgeons to:
- Ask answerable clinical questions
- Find and critically appraise literature efficiently
- Understand study methodologies
- Extract numerical information from literature
- Apply evidence to surgical practice
- Develop sound foundations for conducting research
- Incorporate current research into practice
- Identify areas where good evidence is lacking and future
research necessary
- Run a successful journal club
- Effective supervision of trainee research
Content
Provider course
The provider course runs over two days and is conducted for
thirty-two participants, with a faculty of four to five
instructors. It is a combination of lectures and small group
teaching. Topics covered include:
- Guide to clinical epidemiology
- Framing clinical questions
- Randomised controlled trial
- Non-randomised and uncontrolled studies
- Evidence based surgery
- Diagnostic and screening tests
- Statistical significance
- Searching the medical literature
- Decision analysis and cost effectiveness studies
Consultants course
The consultants course also runs over two days and is conducted
for thirty-two participants, with a faculty of five to six
instructors. Similar to the provider course, it employs a
combination of lectures and small group teachings to convey
knowledge to participants. Topics covered include:
- Guide to clinical epidemiology
- Framing clinical questions
- Randomised controlled trial
- Non-randomised and uncontrolled studies
- Evidence based surgery
- Diagnostic and screening tests
- Statistical significance
- Searching the medical literature
- Decision analysis and cost effectiveness studies
- Running journal clubs
- Supervising research projects
Program
Provider course
For an outline of the two day provider course please view the CLEAR
provider course program (PDF 49KB)
Consultants course
For an outline of the two day consultants course please view the
CLEAR
consultants course program (PDF 28KB)
Course materials
Participants are provided with a course manual and articles.
Participants are provided with a certificate upon completion.
back to top
Eligibility
Provider course
To attend the CLEAR provider course you must be a medical
graduate. Places will only be available to doctors post-graduate
year 1+. You must be eligible at the time of
enrolment.
The CLEAR provider course is not a mandatory eligibility
requirement for selection to the SET program.
Consultants course
To attend the CLEAR consultants course you must be a RACS
Fellow. You must be eligible at the time of enrolment.
back to top
Schedule and
fees
Course schedule
CLEAR courses are held on various dates at locations across
Australia and New Zealand:
CLEAR course schedule 2019 (PDF 72KB)
Fees
2019:
- Australia - A$1,650.00 (incl. GST)*
- New Zealand - NZ$1,865.00 (incl. GST)**
*In Australia, the CLEAR course is an approved course under
the tax system. This exempts surgical Trainees of the College
required to complete the CLEAR course as part of their surgical
training from having 10% GST levied on their course fees.
Australian fees for all other CLEAR course participants are subject
to 10% GST.
**Courses conducted in New Zealand will be invoiced in NZ
dollars, regardless of residential country of applicant.
back to top
Enrolment
Online enrolment for 2019 courses is now open to all eligible
applicants.
Candidates are encouraged
to enrol in the course at least six weeks prior to course
commencement to ensure adequate preparation. Enrolments
close four weeks prior to course commencement.
How to enrol
- Visit
online enrolment
- Log in or create a College account
- Have your medical registration number on hand (your eligibility
to attend is determined by your date of first
registration)
- Full payment is required at the time of enrolment
- You may nominate up to six reserve places for courses
that are already full
- Join the Skills Training mailing list to be kept up to
date with release dates
Cancellation policy
- Cancellations of more than 10 weeks
prior to course: 95% refund of course fee
- Cancellations of less than 10 weeks
prior to course: 50% refund of course fee
- Cancellations of less than 6 weeks
prior to course: No refund of course fee
This policy applies should you elect to enrol on an alternative
course within this timeframe. Please note, refunds take
approximately ten business days to process.
Cancelled courses
In the unlikely event that a course is cancelled, RACS will not
be held responsible for reimbursing airfare, hotel or other costs
incurred by the registrant. A course can be cancelled up to 3 weeks
prior to course commencement, whereby candidates are issued a 100%
refund.
Withdrawals and transfers
To withdraw from your allocated course, please complete the
Unfortunately transfers to alternative courses are not possible.
Applicants are required to withdraw from their original course,
then enrol in another course. Each enrolment is consider a seperate
enrolment and is therefore subject to the cancellation policy.
Please refer to the cancellation policy for details regarding
course refunds.
Further information
Please visit
Frequently Asked Questions for further information.
For information about course
governance please visit
CLEAR Committee.
For information about course
policies please visit Skills Training
Policies.
back to top
Contact
Australia
CLEAR Program Administrator
Skills Training Department
Division of Education Development and Assessment
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
College of Surgeons' Gardens
250-290 Spring Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9276 7450
Fax: +61 3 9249 1298
Email: clear@surgeons.org
New Zealand
Administration Officer
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
PO Box 7451
Wellington South Wellington 6242
New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 385 8247
Fax: +64 4 385 8873
Stay up-to-date
Join the Skills
Training mailing list
Like Us On Facebook
Follow us on
Twitter: and look out for #RACSskills