Continuous professional development and learning needs of physicians without vocational training: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: Continuing professional development (CPD) is a continuing learning process that complements formal undergraduate education and postgraduate training. The aim of this study was to define learning needs, and preferred CPD activities and educational methods of non-vocationally trained physicians working in different settings and to draw conclusions for future CPD activities. Methods: All physicians without vocational training working in Denizli were enrolled (s=473). A self-completed 22-item questionnaire with five-point Likert-type scale was sent to the participants from January 2009 to May 2009. The learning needs of the participants were asked in open-ended questions. The reliability coefficient of items in the questionnaire was high (Cronbach’s Alpha= 0.83). Results: The response rate was 54.3% (n=257). Of 257 physicians, 79.8% (n=205) reported that they saw 30 and more patients per day and 77.4% (s=199) reported that they encountered with 5-15 clinical questions per day. The most common preferred sources of information were medical textbooks and journals, followed by internet. The most common preferred methods of CPD were medical skills courses and workshops. Conclusions: Primary care and emergency care physicians without vocational training do not seem to prefer traditional educational methods but rather they prefer learner-centered, selfdirected and interactive CPD activities. Taking this situation into consideration while planning the future CPD programs may improve the quality of health care provision.