Vodcasts of Self-reflection forums now online

14 Jun 2017

Self-regulation of learning for chiropractors plays an important role in professional behavior.

In particular, it is important for continuing professional development (CPD) and when practitioners prepare strategies for effective remediation and return to practice.

To advance the conversation on self-reflection for chiropractors, the Chiropractic Board of Australia (the Board) hosted stakeholder forums on Saturday 25 March 2017 and Sunday 26 March 2017.

The purpose was to discuss self-regulation of learning for practitioners with a focus on self-reflection on learning activities, particularly as it applies to CPD. The Board took the opportunity to also discuss self-reflection in the context of remediation and/or return to practice.

The forum was well attended by a broad spectrum of stakeholders and guests, in person or by webinar, including:

• members of the Chiropractic Board of Australia
• members of other National Boards
• staff from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• representatives from all chiropractic undergraduate programs in Australia and New Zealand
• members of the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia
• representatives from chiropractic professional bodies and associations in Australia
• representatives from the Chiropractic Council of NSW
• Board-approved persons for providing further education under the National Law and
• representatives from the New Zealand Chiropractic Board and the New Zealand Chiropractor’s Association.

The Board received thought provoking and informative presentations from key note speaker Professor Kevin Eva on Self-reflection in the health professions and on Facilitating receptivity in the reluctant adult learner, as well as supporting presentations from Board Chair Dr Wayne Minter AM (CPD in a regulatory context) and Dr Mark Bartolo (Reflections on the mentoring of chiropractors in clinical practice).

Professor Eva’s research relates to issues around recency of practice, development and maintenance of competence and expertise; and performance assessment and self-regulation in professional practice. In addition he holds the roles of Associate Director and Senior Scientist in the Centre for Health Education Scholarship, Professor and Director of Educational Research and Scholarship in the Department of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia, Editor-in-chief for the journal Medical Education and visiting professor at a number of universities internationally. This wealth of experience and expertise was an invaluable addition to group discussions

Professor Eva’s presentations are now available as vodcasts here:

• Transcript: Transcript - Self-reflection in the health professions - Kevin W Eva (585 KB,DOCX)

• Transcript: Transcript - Facilitating receptivity in the reluctant adult learner - Kevin W.Eva (583 KB,DOCX)

The Board and attendees now have a greater level of insight and understanding of self-reflection and, in particular, the importance of, and difficulties with, delivering feedback to improve performance.

Knowing that self-assessment of competency is a flawed but an important driver of human behaviour means that for it to be as effective as it can be it must be informed, encouraged and supported by:

• providing tools and resources to inform the activity
• establishing a safe and understanding environment/culture in which to give and receive feedback, and
• building a culture that supports self-directed assessment and peer feedback.

There are roles for the regulator, educators, accrediting bodies and the profession itself in advancing self-assessment practice among Australian chiropractors.

The Board thanks everyone who attended for their valuable contribution to the forums, as well as for their valuable feedback, and looks forward to ongoing stakeholder participation in future forums.