Health information managers' engagement in continuing professional development

Area of Science:

• Health Information Management
• Professional Development
• Continuing Education

Background:

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is crucial for health information managers (HIMs) to maintain and enhance professional competence.
• The Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) outlines CPD requirements in its Professional Competency Standards.
• Previous research has not explored the extent of CPD engagement among Australian HIMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the engagement levels of HIMs with CPD initiated by professional bodies.
• To identify the enablers and barriers influencing HIMs' participation in CPD activities.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 72 Victorian HIM graduates from four distinct cohorts (1985, 1995, 2005, 2015).
• The survey collected data on participants' perceptions of CPD and their involvement with HIMAA events and activities.

Main Results:

• Over 70% of HIMs agreed that CPD is important, citing networking, continuous learning, and skill development as key motivators.
• Barriers to CPD engagement included role changes outside of HIM, time constraints, lack of interest, and perceived irrelevance.
• While 72% attended conferences or webinars, 57% had not participated in any HIMAA-specific CPD activities.

Conclusions:

• A notable percentage of HIMs (29.1%) either disagreed with the importance of CPD or were unsure, and 57% lacked engagement with professional body-initiated CPD.
• Strengthening HIMs' engagement with CPD is essential for lifelong learning, maintaining professional competence, and advancing the HIM profession.
• HIMAA should diversify CPD content and formats to enhance engagement and ensure HIMs remain competent in a dynamic health information environment.