Table 3

Module development process (4–6 mo): Family physician authors have ongoing involvement in all phases of module development

PROCESS
  • Identification of clinical topic and family physician author or authors

  • Literature review and subsequent gap analysis document by medical education researcher

  • Practice cases around the identified gap in practice submitted by family physician author, editor, or other family physicians

  • Round-table discussion of gap analysis document and cases, involving author, editor, researcher, medical writer, and 2 or more family physician participants

  • Session is audiotaped by medical writer for subsequent referral

  • Draft of case commentaries by medical writer, followed by first and second drafts of module

  • Each document is reviewed by both physician author and medical editor (potentially medical education researcher)

  • The draft module is pilot-tested by 1 or more of small group’s members

  • Comments from the pilot-test groups are incorporated into the module and a new draft is produced

  • A near-final draft is sent to expert reviewers or family physicians with a special interest in the topic

  • Reviewers’ comments are incorporated into the module, copyedited, and formatted for printing