The use of significant event analysis and personal development plans in developing CPD: a pilot study

This paper describes the work undertaken by the Postgraduate Primary Care Trust (PCT) Dental Tutor for South Yorkshire and East Midlands Regional Postgraduate Dental Education Office during the first year of a two-year pilot. The tutor has special responsibility for facilitating the writing of Personal Development Plans (PDPs) and the introduction of Significant Event Analysis to the 202 general dental practitioners in the four Sheffield PCTs. Data were collected on significant events and the educational needs highlighted as a result. A hands-on workshop format was used in small practice groups and 45% of Sheffield general dental practitioners now have written PDPs compared with a 16% national average. A library of significant events has also been collated from the data collected.