Why Choose the Practice-Based Learning Program (PBLP)?
Fulfilling: Whether learning individually or in a small group, PBLP offers a flexible, supportive environment that helps prevent burnout and inspires growth. Sharing experiences with peers or delving deeper into topics on your own can be equally enriching.
Flexible: PBLP adapts to your schedule. Small groups can meet in person, virtually, or both, while individual learners can engage with modules at their own pace. As a PBLP member, you have access to both formats, allowing you to choose how you want to learn.
Affordable: For $495 a year, you can fulfill all the credits required by the CFPC, with options to earn Mainpro+ certified credits and Mainpro+ certified assessment credits.
Ethical: Know you are providing the most up to date care to your patients, while supporting a not-for-profit program with no pharmaceutical or for-profit bias.
In the past year, program members rated PBLP highly in the following areas:
- 99.0% in making learning enjoyable
- 98.6% in sharing experiences
- 99.5% in focusing discussions on real practice issues
- 99.4% in making practice changes
The Practice-Based Learning Program is more than 6,000 family physicians strong, backed by over 30 years of experience in delivering innovative, evidence-based continuing medical education.
Small Group Process
Groups of 4–10 family physicians meet for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, usually once a month. Groups can decide where to meet, how often, and for what length of time.
These sessions, guided by a trained peer facilitator, focus on discussing real patient cases and identifying practice gaps using the same evidence-based modules available to individual learners. Groups can take as long as they need to review a module. By the end of each meeting, the group completes a Group Practice Reflection Tool (PRT) to plan and later review practice changes. The structured, case-based modules ensure that discussions are focused and practice-based.
Trained Peer Facilitator
Facilitators play a crucial role in guiding small group discussions. They are trained in a virtual workshop that covers fostering a supportive learning environment, helping identify practice gaps, and integrating new knowledge into practice. Facilitators are co-learners and receive their annual membership fee waived upon completing the training and actively facilitating a group. We encourage groups to have two co-facilitators, in which case the waived fee is split between the two.
Individual Learning
Members can independently work through the same modules used in group sessions. The Personal Practice Reflection Tools allow individual learners to reflect and incorporate new knowledge into practice. You can revisit topics covered in your group for a deeper dive or explore new ones on your own. Some members may choose to learn exclusively individually, without being part of a group.
Modules
Fourteen modules are produced each year. The topics cover a wide array of primary care practice issues. Module topics are selected using a rigorous process, which includes input from PBLP members and facilitators and a scan of recent literature and guidelines to determine what clinical topics are most relevant to practicing family physician members.
To accommodate different learning preferences, each module is available in multiple formats:
- Interactive Module Format: A web-based, interactive version that allows you to navigate content at your own pace, bookmark key points, and make notes. This format is compatible across all devices and is currently available in English.
- PDF Module Format: PDFs designed for both printing and screen reading with clickable links.
- Paper Modules: A traditional printed version mailed to members every quarter, ideal for those who prefer a physical copy. An additional $50 annual fee applies for printing and mailing, available only within Canada.
The development team for each module includes a family physician author, a family physician editor, and a module development coordinator. Each module takes approximately nine to twelve months to develop. Module development involves roundtable discussion by representative PBLP members, pilot testing by two or three small groups, and review by two content experts. Modules consist of the following elements:
| Module Sections | Description of Sections |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Identifies the gaps between current practice and best practice and outlines the objectives for the module |
| Authentic Patient Cases | Derived from actual practice cases, the cases are designed to highlight the practice gaps and resonate with family physicians |
| Stimulus Questions | Focus attention on the challenging issues and dilemmas that develop when addressing a patient with a clinical problem |
| Information Section | Best practice is outlined, which includes a balanced discussion of areas of controversy and uncertainty where appropriate. Each recommendation includes the specific levels of evidence for the recommendation |
| Case Commentaries | Provide possible applications of the evidence presented in the module to a specific case |
| References | Materials supporting best evidence-based practices |
| Appendices | Practical tools intended to facilitate physician change in practice: algorithms, chart aids, patient handouts, guides to resources, etc. |
Throughout the review of the module, members are encouraged to reflect on their own real-life cases and practice realities.
All efforts are made to provide unbiased evidence-based information in modules. Pharmaceutical companies or other for-profit companies are not involved in the production of modules.
Click here to see an example of a module and here to see a list of recent module topics.
Practice Reflection Tools (PRTs)
Both Group and Personal PRTs are vital for consolidating new knowledge and identifying practice changes. Several months after the initial module review, participants can reflect on the success of these changes through the Follow-Up PRT.
Practice Improvement Activity (PIA)
PBLP members can engage in optional Practice Improvement Activities, guided projects that help implement quality improvement into your practice. These activities offer an opportunity to earn additional Mainpro+ Assessment credits and can be completed individually or discussed within your group. The program also offers the support of a Quality Improvement Coach. The PIA can be used to aid you with a requirement to do a quality improvement project for your college, hospital, or clinic.
Click here to see a sample PIA on Osteoporosis.