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Appraisal: a guide for medical practitioners

A report from the Board of Medical Education
October 2003

On 7 November 2003 the BMJ launched a web site to help GPs with appraisal and revalidation. The site, bmjlearning.com, provides needs assessment tools to help doctors identify their learning needs as well as an electronic personal development plan that will record and save learning activities. It explains what the GMC expects of doctors. The site will has a growing number of BMJ learning resources, based on the most up to date evidence. The resource is a useful complement to this site. Go to the website here

The board of medical education, a standing committee of the British Medical Association, provides an interface between the medical profession, the government, the educational sector, and the public. One aim of the board is to provide evidence of best practice and promote the highest standards of medical education. The board provides up-to-date information resources for students applying to medical school, as well as careers information for doctors.

With the annual appraisal for medical practitioners well under way in most hospitals and primary care trusts (PCTs), this report serves as a resource for doctors interested in learning more about the principles and practice involved in the annual appraisal process.

This report addresses appraisal from both appraiser and appraisee perspectives and looks beyond the standard definition of appraisal as simply a structured formal meeting between an employee and their supervisor in which the work performance of the employee is examined and discussed [Go to reference 1]. Instead, it looks at appraisal as a component of life-long learning, emphasising that it is vital for personal professional development. Examples of current appraisal technique and case studies highlighting good practice illustrate ways in which doctors can make the most of the appraisal process. In addition, it looks at the theory underlying appraisal and the objectives of the appraisal process, and practical details about preparation for appraisal are included.

Intended to be used as a living document, the report also makes recommendations and provides links to other websites that provide further details on appraisal.

Dr Peter H Dangerfield
Chairman, board of medical education
October 2003