Veterinary e-CPD: a new model for providing online continuing professional development for the veterinary profession

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Education Technology

Background:

• Continuing professional development (CPD) is crucial for veterinary surgeons.
• Traditional CPD methods face challenges including location, time, and cost constraints.
• E-learning presents a solution to overcome these limitations in professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and satisfaction of an online e-CPD program for veterinary surgeons.
• To assess the potential of e-learning as a viable alternative to traditional CPD delivery.

Main Methods:

• A series of six-week online e-CPD courses were offered by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
• Participant feedback was collected and analyzed from May 2006 to January 2007.
• International participation from 23 countries was recorded.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of participants expressed general satisfaction with the online learning format.
• Most participants indicated a willingness to use the e-learning approach again.
• The study demonstrated successful deployment of e-learning for veterinary CPD.

Conclusions:

• E-learning provides an effective and accessible alternative to traditional face-to-face CPD for veterinarians.
• The popularity of online veterinary education is expected to increase as familiarity and confidence grow.