Practice-Based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) in Scotland: the past, the present and the future.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Health Care
• Continuing Professional Development

Background:

• Practice-based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) originated in Canada and was piloted in Scotland in 2003.
• The Scottish PBSGL program has expanded significantly, engaging 3,400 members from diverse primary healthcare professions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the growth and key features of the Scottish Practice-based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) program.
• To highlight the inter-professional nature and impact of PBSGL on continuing professional development in Scotland.

Main Methods:

• Small groups of healthcare professionals meet to discuss anonymized patient case presentations.
• Groups review evidence-based modules and commit to implementing practice changes, logging them in a shared document.
• Peer facilitators are trained to guide group discussions and ensure program effectiveness.

Main Results:

• 34% of Scottish PBSGL groups are inter-professional, reflecting evolving primary healthcare teams.
• PBSGL facilitates professional and inter-professional socialization, with peer support being a key function for many groups.
• The program has developed a local module-writing team and trained over 1,000 peer facilitators.

Conclusions:

• The Scottish PBSGL program successfully provides accessible continuing professional development for primary healthcare teams across Scotland.
• PBSGL empowers groups to control their meeting content and logistics, fostering self-directed learning and practice improvement.
• The program's inter-professional approach supports the dynamic needs of modern primary healthcare delivery.