The continuing education activity of allied health professionals. Part 2) Motivational orientations for participation

The purposes of this study were to determine 1) the extent to which selected groupings of allied health professionals differed in their orientations toward engaging in continuing education (CE), and 2) the utility of these orientations in predicting differences in their CE participation. A cross-sectional survey design gathered pertinent descriptive information and data on levels of participation in and orientations toward CE from individuals representing three major allied health occupational clusters. Observed differences in motivational orientations among subgroups of the sample suggest that a general shift from pragmatic purposes for participation to less utilitarian motives occurs as these personnel advance within their career lines. Moreover, the utility of these orientations in predicting CE participation was observed to vary substantially across the disciplines studied. An understanding of the perceived importance and predictive utility of allied health professionals' orientations toward participation can facilitate decision-making by those involved in both CE planning and policy formulation.