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

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Primary Care Dentistry
• Professional Development

Background:

• Postgraduate Primary Care Trust (PCT) Dental Tutors play a role in professional development.
• Implementing Personal Development Plans (PDPs) and Significant Event Analysis (SEA) are key initiatives in dental education.
• Limited data exists on the effectiveness of these programs in general dental practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the initial phase of a pilot program introducing PDPs and SEA to general dental practitioners.
• To assess the impact of facilitated PDP writing and SEA introduction on dental professionals' educational needs.
• To evaluate the adoption rate of written PDPs among Sheffield general dental practitioners.

Main Methods:

• A Postgraduate Dental Tutor facilitated the writing of PDPs and the introduction of SEA.
• Data collection focused on significant events and identified educational needs.
• A hands-on workshop format was employed in small practice groups.

Main Results:

• 45% of Sheffield general dental practitioners developed written PDPs, significantly higher than the 16% national average.
• A library of significant events was collated from collected data.
• Educational needs were identified through the analysis of significant events.

Conclusions:

• The pilot program demonstrated a successful strategy for enhancing professional development in primary care dentistry.
• Facilitated PDP writing and SEA introduction can significantly improve engagement with professional development tools.
• The initiative provides a valuable model for other Primary Care Trusts seeking to advance dental education.