To better understand the long-term impact of Path 4, a follow-up survey was sent to the Spring 2025 cohort six months after their participation. The survey focused on how the elements of Path 4 (Peer Circles, reflection, coaching and goal setting) continued to influence their thinking, learning and professional practice over time.
Overall, the survey results show that Path 4 provided lasting value beyond completion! Participants reported continued growth in confidence, competence and reflective practice, with many describing tangible changes in how they approach learning, decision-making, and client care. Check out the detailed results below!
Peer Circle Case Studies
We wanted to understand whether the case discussions remained relevant and whether insights from Peer Circles continued to shape participants’ thinking and day-to-day practice.
| Agree or Strongly Agree | |
|---|---|
| The case topics discussed in the Peer Circles were relevant to my practice. | 88% |
| I have applied learning or insights from the Peer Circles in my practice. | 96% |
| The Peer Circle experience has influenced how I think about or approach aspects of my work. | 94% |
| Overall, participating in Peer Circles has had a lasting, positive impact on my professional development. | 96% |
Comments from participants:
“While working through my own ethical dilemma at work, I reflected on the approach we used during our peer circle reviews. I gathered the relevant information, considered the situation from multiple perspectives, and developed a plan to ensure that my actions aligned with CDHO guidelines.”
“In many of the case scenarios, clarity in the situation would be improved with careful communication. This is a skill I continue to work on to achieve better understanding of client needs and true consent when implementing dental hygiene treatments.”
Reflection
This section explored whether the written reflection process led to sustained insight, ongoing self-assessment and meaningful changes in practice.
| Agree or Strongly Agree | |
|---|---|
| The reflection process helped me identify areas of my practice that I have continued to think about since participating. | 96% |
| I have taken action or made changes in my practice based on insights from my written reflection. | 90% |
| The reflection process continues to influence how I approach learning or self-assessment. | 92% |
| Reflecting on learning has been a valuable experience. | 99% |
Comment from a participant:
“Reflecting on my learning over the past six months has allowed me to refine my practice in meaningful ways. While some sessions were more impactful than others, I’ve consistently walked away with at least one practical idea to implement in my daily routine. For example, reflecting on case discussions about patient communication has helped me adjust my approach with hesitant patients, improving both patient satisfaction and outcomes. Overall, the space for reflection has allowed me to grow both in my technical skills and in my interpersonal interactions.”
Coaching
We asked participants about the lasting value of coaching, including its role in identifying strengths, areas for growth and approaches to ongoing professional learning.
| Agree or Strongly Agree | |
|---|---|
| The coaching sessions I participated in had a lasting, positive impact on my professional development. | 93% |
| Through coaching, I was able to identify one or more professional strengths. | 93% |
| Through coaching, I was able to identify one or more areas for professional growth. | 94% |
| The coaching process influenced the way I approach learning or professional development. | 90% |
| I found the coaching sessions to be a valuable experience overall. | 94% |
Comments from participants:
“Coaching sessions allowed for positive discussion, clarification and guidance to help identify any areas I was deficient in. Coaching helped to ensure I’m on the right track for the rest of the year.”
“My coaching session was really informative and was a great opportunity for me to vocalize my goals and how to implement them and it was great to hear advice to guide my goals and CE.”
Goal Setting
The goal setting questions focused on progress, relevance over time, and whether goals continued to support professional growth and reflection beyond the Path 4 process.
| Agree or Strongly Agree | |
|---|---|
| I have made progress toward achieving the goal I set during the Path 4 process. | 96% |
| Working toward my goal has influenced my practice or professional development. | 93% |
| My goal continues to feel relevant to my professional growth. | 96% |
| Reflecting on my goal has helped me recognize learning or growth that has occurred since participating in Path 4 activities. | 98% |
Comments from participants:
“Working toward specific goals over the last six months has helped me focus more on patient-centered care. One of my goals was to improve my ability to assess and address patient anxiety. After setting this goal, I’ve implemented calming techniques, such as asking open-ended questions and taking more time to explain procedures. I’ve seen an increase in patient satisfaction and trust. Additionally, reflecting on these goals has given me a better understanding of my strengths and areas where I can still grow, helping me stay focused on continuous improvement.”
“One of my goals was to advocate for longer appt times, this gave me a push I needed to approach practice owner. I explained the benefit of longer time and how it would improve client experience, and as a result it has reduced my stress and personalized improved care I now provide for my clients.”
“We have started to explore translation apps and how to better utilize tablets to help communicate with new residences who present in our clinic.”