ABSTRACT
The barriers to vocational training can be considered fewer than two separate headings. These are: poor performance / under-achievement, and stress-related issues. The role of trainers is critical to successful management of the poorly performing Vocational Dental Practitioner (VDP). Poor performance is difficult to define because many of the assessment measures used are subjective. A trainer who has previously been a trainer to high achievers may have a baseline expectation far that of somebody whose previous experiences have been less than ideal. The main postulate of goal theory is that the employee's goals are the predominant determinants of workplace behaviour. Trainers should encourage goal-setting behaviour to motivate the VDP; the professional development portfolio is a useful tool in this respect. Poor performance can result from a failure to exercise skills specific to dentistry but also from a range of generic skills that include communication skills and problem solving.
