title: Peer-support writing group in a community family medicine teaching unit: Facilitating professional development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aspiring physician writers need an environment that promotes self-reflection and can help them improve their skills and confidence in writing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create a peer-support writing group for physicians in the Markham-Stouffville community in Ontario to promote professional development by encouraging self-reflection and fostering the concept of physician as writer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The program, designed based on a literature review and a needs assessment, was conducted in 3 sessions over 6 months. Participants included an emergency physician, 4 family physicians, and 3 residents. Four to 8 participants per session shared their projects with guest physician authors. Eight pieces of written work were brought to the sessions, 3 of which were edited. A mixed quantitative and qualitative evaluation model was used with preprogram and postprogram questionnaires and a focus group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This program promoted professional development by increasing participants' frequency of self-reflection and improving their proficiency in writing. Successful elements of this program include creating a supportive group environment and having a physician-writer expert facilitate the peer-feedback sessions. Similar programs can be useful in postgraduate education or continuing professional development.
authors.affiliation: Candidate in the Women's Health Enhanced Skills Program at the University of Toronto in Ontario. lina.al.imari@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al-Imari
authors.affiliation: Family physician in Markham, Ont.
authors.forename: Jaisy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and Scientific Editor of Canadian Family Physician.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pimlott
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009864:Ontario; D010379:Peer Group; D010820:Physicians; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D014956:Writing / Q000592:standards*