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Training in andrology: the level 1 programme of the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) and of the European Society for Andrological Urology (ESAU)

2007; Wiley; Volume: 30; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2605.2006.00731.x

2047-2927

G. R. Dohle, A. Giwercman, Andrea Lenzi, W. Weidner, G. Forti, Vincenzo Mirone,

Medicine, History, and Philosophy

Andrology is the subspeciality that deals with male infertility, male contraception, male sexual dysfunction and testosterone deficiencydue bothto hypogonadism of known etiologyand late-onset hypogonadism. Andrology, practised by endocrinologists, urologists and in Germany by some dermatologists, is clearly an interdisciplinary medical subspecialty. In some European countries, andrology is a subspeciality of urology or of endocrinology or has an own entity. For more than 10 years the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) is running a training programme for doctors who wish to become a trained Andrologist-EAA: this programme consists of 2 years, formal training in an EAA training centre and a written and oral examination that has to be passed to become an EAA-certified clinical andrologist. These fully fledged andrologists should have the knowledge and skills to participate in both clinical and research activities of reproductive centres and university institutions. The European Society of Andrological Urology (ESAU) and the EAA have been discussing the option for a less extensive training scheme for urologists and endocrinologists who wish to give their professional status an andrological profile, without having to go through the full EAA programme for Clinical Andrologist. For this purpose the EAA has developed the level 1 Educational Program in Andrology, which has been accepted by the ESAU and is now open to urologists and endocrinologists. The training will be focused on the following topics: male infertility, male sexual dysfunction, male reproductive endocrinology and male accessory gland infections. These topics will be covered both by clinical training and by at least four teaching courses, one for each area. For the practical training and the courses credit points can be obtained, each credit point representing 25 h of clinical training or half-day of a course. A total of 60 credit points has to be obtained to get certification of attendance to the full programme and can normally be accomplished within 1 year. The advantages of the credit point system are: It permits a slower study pace, e.g. 60 credits may be acquired in 1 year or over a 3-year period. It allows pursuance and completion of study in different centres, provided that these centres are EAA–ESAU-accepted training institutions. It allows an individual student to have a 'discount' or an addition of credits necessary to obtain a given goal, on the basis of a proven andrological training or previously studied courses. Some credit points can already be obtained during urological or endocrinological training in highly qualified institutions. The credit system creates a homogeneous structure for study in terms of hours of training and individual learning. An innovation of the EAA–ESAU Educational Programme is the possibility of being trained at more than one department/centre accredited by the EAA–ESAU. However, each trainee should have her/his educational program accepted by the EAA–ESAU beforehand. The clinical training must be performed in centre(s) of high qualification in andrology. The department/centre must be capable of giving trainees the possibility of gaining the skills and performing the activities required by the EAA–ESAU level 1 educational programme. A minimum of 8 months of attendance, even if not consecutive, is required. The head of the centre must certify with a statement on his own responsibility that the required skills in each subfield have been achieved (the list of skills and activities required are listed in Table 1). This new training programme gives urologists and endocrinologists the possibility to get the skills and expertise to diagnose and treat male reproductive disorders. We certainly hope that many colleagues will take this opportunity to improve their cultural and professional background in andrology and to become the counterpart of the gynaecologist treating female reproductive disorders. Urologists and endocrinologists interested in the level 1 training programme in Andrology can contact the EAA secretary office (E-mail: sabrina.luccarini@uniroma1.it; fax: +39 06 49970719).