Workshop 02

Background: The WONCA Working Party on Education has published standards for delivering Continuous Professional Development. This work has made us aware that individual learning needs of Family Medicine Doctors vary widely according to the context  of their work. Overcoming the personal conflict of what we “want” to learn, rather than what our patients’  demographics “need” us to learn, remains challenging., We must explicitly direct our CPD to ensure we  are up to date and safe to practise.

Aim:  At the end of the workshop participants will have explored their approach to, and challenges faced, when planning CPD using a tool designed regionally for the “Detection and Analysis of Training Needs.”

Session description: This will be an interactive workshop with work in pairs, small groups and plenary. After introductions, participants will reflect on their own challenges for CPD and their expectations of the workshop. The “Detection and Analysis of Training Needs” tool developed by HR for use in training will be introduced interactively in small groups. Participants will be shown how to use the tool, which supports addressing the specific conditions patients present with,  reflecting on and identifying their learning needs and how to train others to use it. Plenary discussion will explore common themes, how it might change their personal practice and areas for improvement.

Conclusion: This workshop offers the opportunity to build on the conference theme of Continuous Medical Education using a tool developed in the EMR Region to identify and then fill gaps in learning. It has important potential to help doctors keep up to date and optimise patient care and safety.