Article analysis

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Introduction

This article is a proposal from the chief medical officer for a change in the General practice (GPs’) education from the postgraduate education allowance to practice professional development plans and personal development plans. It is a study using qualitative method on a number of GPs students showing obstacles, advantages, disadvantages and requirements of the new system. In practice, issues of workload, association and dealing with the vast dynamics in the world was shown to bring hindrance in undertaking plans the study also highlighted what was required for successful implementation (Wilcock, et al, 2003).

This proposal project set to explore the internal and external factors that helped and hindered undertaking development plans.

Factors in the paper having significant impact on developing a personal development plan

These factors in this paper have been subdivided into two internal and external for better elaboration

Internal

Change leaders within practice

Leaders are key person in running of any organization. Leadership that brings about change the people require was seen to be greatly appreciated and helpful. A leader with change initiative within a practice has ability to take it to higher levels even in development plans; he is the factor providing motivation to change even to GPs0 in practice (Wilcock, et al, 2003).

Number of partners within practice

The more the number of GPs in a practice, the more the benefit in undertaking the personal practice development plan as the different doctors hold different responsibilities in the practice thus sharing the workload provided they have a culture of interpractice collaborative working. Those in large practices held this view while those in small practices saw it as a lot of work and a complex plan for the practice (Wilcock, et al, 2003).

Contribution from the practice team

Once the participants are active in collaborative working the personal practice development plan is easily achieved, collaboration among staff and a spirit of teamwork is very vital to this

External

Revalidation

There is an advantage in using a single process such as personal practice development plan or personal development plan in a bid to meet the three essentials for profession continuity.

Change from general medical service to personal medical service

This is an advantage since personal; medical service has similar requirements to that of PPDPs so this change would bring about information for a PPDP. The money gotten in PMS can be invested in additional staff who would help within PPDPs (Wilcock, et al, 2003).

Practice locality

A practice within a primary care trust locality with practices with a lot in common increases collaborative work through joint meetings to formulate the way forward to PPDP.

Facilitation guidelines

The GP tutors in the external workshops were very helpful in creating insight on this issue plus guidelines. A plan facilitator was also seen effective in this to assist in professional plan formulation.

Factors hindering

Retirement or death of a partner

Ones contribution in a practice becomes vital overtime, they own a certain part in the plan they do best, losing them creates a niche in the practice leading to need for replacement and search for perfect replacement, which is hard.

Learning style

The different learning styles in undertaking PPDPs and PDPs were uncomfortable especially reflecting and then documenting.

Task of change

Change is not an easy thing it is easier coming from within than imposed. Use of gp tutors and local educators may be seen as if the change is being imposed making it hard. The change in workload, collaboration and personal adjustment is at times too much (CIB, and, IFS, 1999).

Time

Time needed to compile development plans is a lot and the increased overload makes it hard for the practices to come up with PPDPs and PDP. The gps take their time over weekends to do this and it is not encouraging (CIB, and, IFS, 1999).

Locality

Those in rural areas had a hard time accessing postgraduate centers creating a communication problem for dynamics information.

Other factors affecting personal plan development

Motivation from previous successes in this field creates a positive influence on the GPs to take up a PDP, seeing that others have made it in their practices is a motivation (CIB, and, IFS, 1999).

Availability of resources and means to execute the plans in the PPD is also a factor promoting their execution.

Other limitations apart from those mentioned include stereotypes on failure of this developments plans than successes, this may be made worse by low self efficacy as this need high esteem and believe in one self (CIB, and, IFS, 1999).

References

Wilcock, P., Campion-Smith, C., & Elston, S. (2003). Practice professional development planning: A guide for primary care. Abingdon, U.K: Radcliffe Medical Press

Chartered Institute of Bankers., & Institute of Financial Services. (1999). Introduction to team and personal development. London: Chartered Institute of Bankers