What helps and hinders doctors in engaging in continuous professional development? An explanatory sequential design

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Public Health

Background:

• Traditional licensure and registration may not keep pace with medical advancements.
• Hong Kong lacks a structured system for ongoing assessment of doctors' competence.
• This study addresses the need for continuous professional development (CPD) to ensure patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess doctors' perceived needs for CPD.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to implementing compulsory CPD in Hong Kong.
• To inform strategies for maintaining professional competence.

Main Methods:

• An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used.
• Phase 1 involved a postal questionnaire survey of 2,459 doctors.
• Phase 2 included individual interviews with 30 doctors.

Main Results:

• Over 90% of doctors value CPD for updating knowledge and skills.
• Specialists (65.4%) were more likely than non-specialists (30.7%) to support CPD for license renewal.
• Barriers for non-specialists included accessibility, availability, and relevance of CPD programs.

Conclusions:

• CPD content and processes should consider individual needs, learning styles, and practice areas.
• Flexibility, incentives, and a compliance strategy are key to effective CPD.
• Addressing barriers and leveraging facilitators can enhance CPD uptake and maintain professional competence.