Revalidation of general dental practitioners in Scotland: The results of a pilot study Part 1 |[ndash]| feasibility of operation

doi:doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813427

British Dental Journal 200, 399 - 402 (2006)
Published online: 8 April 2006 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813427

Revalidation of general dental practitioners in Scotland: The results of a pilot study Part 1 – feasibility of operation

Y G Maidment¹, J S Rennie² & M Thomas³

Revalidation is intended to assure the public that dental professionals continue to remain up to date and fit to practise.
It should be possible to delegate a significant proportion of the administration of revalidation compliance activity.
Current clinical governance systems should be sufficient to permit revalidation to operate.

Aim To devise and operate a pilot scheme of revalidation for general dental practitioners.

Method A representative group of dental practitioners was convened to advise on an approach to piloting revalidation. Ten general dental practitioners volunteered and completed portfolios of evidence of fitness to practise. The portfolios were assessed by a panel of three calibrated experts, using a specially developed assessment tool. A single decision 'evidence presented allowed revalidation to be recommended' was made. A timesheet was used to record the time spent producing the portfolio.

Results Eight portfolios were assessed as sufficient for revalidation purposes. Two dentists were required to make supplementary submissions of evidence before they were found to be acceptable. An average of eight hours of dentist time and six hours of delegated time was spent producing the portfolios.

Conclusions The small number of dentists in this pilot were able to use the portfolio satisfactorily. The dentists were all volunteers and so may not necessarily be fully representative of the profession. The time spent completing the portfolio was not considered excessive. The assessors were adequately prepared and calibrated for their work.

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Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh, Postgraduate Dental Institute, 4th Floor Lauriston Building, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH10 5NG
Postgraduate Dental Dean & Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland, Hanover Buildings, 66 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2NN
Educationalist and Coach, Saorsa, 5 Bellefield Avenue, Dundee, Tayside, DD1 4NG.

Correspondence to: Y G Maidment¹ City Centre Dental Practice, 2 Chester Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7RA e-mail: yannmaidment@blueyonder.co.uk