The General Dental Council (GDC) has published a new study that takes a closer look at the impact Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has on dentistry.
The GDC is currently carrying out a review of its mandatory CPD requirements for all its registrants and findings from this study will make a contribution to the review.
The study looked at a range of academic literature about CPD in dentistry and other healthcare professionals.
It was prepared for the GDC by a team from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and is the most up-to-date and comprehensive review of literature about CPD in dentistry from the regulatory perspective.
The aim of the GDC’s CPD review is to develop an approach to CPD that is fit for its future regulatory requirements and supports registrants in getting the most out of their learning and development.
It will also enable appropriate CPD requirements to be woven into a proportionate scheme of revalidation in due course.
Head of Revalidation at the GDC, Claire Herbert said: ‘We are pleased to publish a study that points to some key features of effective CPD. It also demonstrates that’s there’s a real research gap about how dental professionals can most effectively continue to learn and develop throughout their career.’
Some of the insights highlighted in the study include:
• Repeated learning is likely to be more effective
• Personal Development Plans and appraisal can support effective CPD decision-making and participation
• Reflection is a core aspect of making CPD effective
• CPD should be driven by individual needs
• The blending of different learning approaches is likely to have a positive impact.
Dean of the FGDP (UK) Russ Ladwa said: ‘We were pleased to lead this study which provides a basis from which other researchers can further develop understanding about CPD in dentistry. There is much yet to be discovered in this area.’
Email any questions or comments about the CPD review and your CPD experiences to [email protected].
