ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN
COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN
COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

Critical Literature Evaluation and Research (CLEAR)

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On this page:CLEAR

Course overview
 Eligibility
Schedule and fees
Enrolment
Contact

CLEAR Blended Learning Pilot courses

After more than two years in development, the CLEAR Committee are excited to announce two blended learning pilot courses prior to the scheduled release throughout Australia and New Zealand in the second half of 2019:

  • CLEAR CL163 Customs House, Brisbane QLD | Fri-Sat, 26-27 April 2019
  • CLEAR CL165 InterContinental, Sydney NSW | Fri-Sat, 21-22 June 2019

This is the first rewrite of the CLEAR program since its inception, with new topics introduced which are relevant to current practice - including pre-clinical research, quality assurance, qualitative research and some contemporary study methods. Participants will work through 9 online modules prior to attending the face to face course, where they will have the chance to apply their newfound knowledge in an interactive setting.

If you need to complete CLEAR, now is your opportunity to enrol in a course delivered and taught by a hand-picked, experienced faculty of CLEAR Committee members in an interactive setting. This is an exciting opportunity to learn the latest in critical literature evaluation and research methods before its general release later in the year.

Enrolments are limited. For more information, please call the CLEAR office on 03 9276 7450 or email clear@surgeons.org

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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