Appraisal for general dental practitioners

In 2011, the General Dental Council commissioned a report into the ‘Impact of Dental CPD’.¹ The report reviewed the published research literature on the subject. The authors noted that planning, self-directed learning and reflection was important in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and that Personal Development Planning and reflection assist clinicians in taking part in appropriate CPD. Personal Development Planning has been defined as ‘a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development’ by the Higher Education Academy.² In the autumn of 2012, the GDC published a consultation document on CPD for assurance and fitness to practise³ and this influenced their thinking on reforms to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In the document they noted some key findings (Table 1). They suggested that CPD should address the four domains of Clinical, Communication, Management & Leadership and Professionalism and that CPD should be based on a process of: