Delivering to 'that list': the challenges of working with learning outcomes

Dental education providers have raised concerns around the challenges experienced when trying to demonstrate student attainment of 'professionalism', as described in the General Dental Council (GDC) document 'Preparing for practice'. This manuscript describes a documentary analysis of each 'outcome' within the dentist professionalism domain section, with an assessment of whether it met the criteria of a functional learning outcome. In addition, outcomes were scrutinised in terms of application within undergraduate degree programmes. Key challenges identified were: the 'outcome list' included standards and objectives as well as outcomes; not all statements were specific and focused, some were broad and multi-faceted; determining attainment where there was no identifiable endpoints; and judging achievability within the supervised and confined environment of undergraduate programmes. We conclude that issues have been created through the way that these learning outcomes have been expressed. Also, it is evident that there are ideological and philosophical issues about accurately articulating the attainment of complex phenomena like professionalism. The findings from this study reflect the challenges associated with using learning outcomes to adequately capture professionalism, the values that underpin it and the behaviours that manifest its existence in clinical practice.