Enhancing the benefit of continuing professional development: a randomized controlled study of personal development plans for dentists

The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation and impact of personal development plans (PDPs) for UK dentists. Eighty-seven UK dentists were divided into two groups, experimental (n = 42; supported by a tutor in developing a PDP) and control (n = 45). Both groups recorded their continuing professional development (CPD) activities over a 6-month period in 2002 and rated their relation to learning needs, extent of new learning, immediate and longer-term impact on practice. All in the experimental group were interviewed 1 month after completing a PDP, 6 months later they rated the match of their CPD activities with their PDP, and at 12 months a sub-sample of 10 were interviewed. The results show that developing a PDP with the aid of a tutor was viewed positively. Participants undertook a median number of 17 educational activities in the 6-month period (mean of 50 hours). Most frequent activities were reading and courses. Ratings for impact, both immediate and later, were higher among the experimental group who had been supported in the development of a PDP, and this was particularly true for reading. For courses, the impact of the intervention was more clearly in evidence when there was a good match between the PDP and the CPD activities actually undertaken. In conclusion, these data, based on self-ratings within a controlled study, show that dentists in the experimental group, who were supported to develop a PDP, derived greater benefit from their CPD than the control group.