A Standardized Individual Learning Plan for Graduate Medical Education: A Modified Delphi Approach.

BACKGROUND: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires residency programs to support residents in developing individualized learning plans (ILPs) to promote self-reflection and continuous improvement. However, there is no standardized ILP template available for programs and residents to use, making implementation and evaluation across programs variable and time-consuming. OBJECTIVE: To develop a consensus-based ILP template for use in graduate medical education. METHODS: A modified Delphi process was performed between February 2022 and May 2023 to create consensus on essential components of an ILP. A literature review informed panelist recruitment and item generation. A panel of 14 experts in ILPs from several specialties and disciplines in the United States and Canada participated in 3 rounds of surveys. Consensus was defined as more than 80% agreement. RESULTS: Fourteen of 28 invited experts (50% response rate) agreed to participate in our study. All panelists completed Round 1, 93% (13 of 14) completed Round 2, and 100% (14 of 14) completed Round 3. Panelists identified key outcomes for ILPs, including self-reflection, needs identification, goal setting, and progress tracking. Key ILP content included long-term planning, feedback and assessment, strengths and areas for growth, personal and career goals, and structured goal planning. Expert recommendations were used to refine the template for clarity and usability. All panelists endorsed the final ILP template as ready for dissemination. CONCLUSIONS: This modified Delphi study of ILP researchers and educators identified consensus-based recommendations for content for an ILP designed to be implemented in any graduate medical education specialty.