ENT TZAR DO-HNS Revision Courses

Author: Kishan Ubayasiri, Core Surgical Trainee Year 1, Kings Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield

Whats it about?
The Intercollegiate Diploma of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (DO-HNS) is intended for
doctors undertaking practice within an Otolaryngology department in a non-consultant career grade or
specialist trainee position. The DO-HNS is composed of two parts: an MCQ paper and an OSCE,
which together test breadth of knowledge, clinical and communication skills, and the professional
attributes considered appropriate by the Royal College of Surgeons for a career in ear, nose and throat
(ENT) surgery. The DO-HNS is now a pre-requisite for ENT ST3 longlisting.
ENT TZAR offers two intense one day revision courses: one aimed at preparation for the MCQs and
the other geared towards the OSCEs. The courses are held either on a Saturday or Sunday and,
therefore, there is no need to use any study leave days.

Whos it for?
The respective course is suitable for anyone preparing to sit either the DO-HNS MCQs or OSCEs, both
from the UK or abroad. It has already attracted overseas delegates from Qatar and India.

When did I do it?

I attended both courses in early 2011, whilst a CT1, after I had completed 4 months of ENT as an F2
and 4 months as a CT1.

Why did I do it?

Unlike for the MRCS Part A, I found a dearth of practice questions for the DO-HNS MCQs, as there
are only a couple of MCQ books on the market. The ENT TZAR MCQ course kicks off with a full
DO-HNS style MCQ paper.
I was also keen to complete a practical course prior to the DO-HNS OSCEs. The benefit of
experiencing an accurate simulation in the form of a mock OSCE prior to sitting the actual exam
cannot be overstated. It is especially useful to know what examiners are looking for and the faculty are
extremely knowledgeable regarding this. They also run courses for the FRCS (ORL-HNS) Exam and
ST3 interviews.
The class sizes are kept relatively small and the course faculty have a real passion for teaching. The
rules of masking, what UPSIT entails and free field testing are just some of the topics that are
eloquently covered. The courses are also exceptional value for money compared to some of the other
DO-HNS revision courses. The timing of the courses is well considered, generally being a couple of
weekends before each respective diet.

What does it involve?

These DO-HNS courses are currently unique in their retrograde approach to knowledge acquisition.
The MCQ course begins with a two hour MCQ exam. The rest of the day is spent dissecting the MCQ
paper with teaching emanating from learning points highlighted by the paper.
Likewise the OSCE course begins with a three and a half hour mock OSCE. The rest of the day is
again spent dissecting the OSCE stations with teaching around learning points emphasized in the
individual stations. Real patients as well as actors are used in a number of the examination stations.
ENT Consultants and specialist registrars supervise the clinical examination and communication
stations.
The retrograde approach to learning particularly suited me. I find it far easier to retain information
once it has already been placed in a particular context. Teaching is highly interactive and by small
group tutorial on both courses.

Is there an exam?
As mentioned, both the MCQ and OSCE courses open with an authentic mock exam.

Was it worth it?

Definitely yes, the faculty are well in touch with the current format and key examination topics tested
in the DO-HNS exams. The course is exam focused and the teaching provided is entirely relevant.
I completed both courses at the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent. The faculty
were approachable and enthusiastic, and the teaching methods and materials were well thought out. I
found that it built ideally on my existing skills and knowledge, provided further inspiration for my
career choice and, most importantly, contributed to my exam success. I would certainly recommend it.

Further information
Courses are run at different times throughout the year at Princess Royal University Hospital,
Farnborough, Kent. The DO-HNS MCQ course costs 100 and the OSCE course costs 175.
For further details on the course structure, future dates, accommodation, travel and such like please
contact Mr CV Praveen DLO FRCS MBA, email: cvpraveen27@gmail.com (ENTTZAR.co.uk website
is currently under construction).
Competing interests: None declared.