General Practitioner Engagement with Continuing Professional Development: A Scoping Review Protocol

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care Research
• Professional Development Studies

Background:

• Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for general practitioners (GPs) but mandated credit-based systems may foster compliance over relevance.
• Concerns exist regarding the impact of current CPD frameworks on GP professional autonomy and clinical practice integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how GPs engage with CPD, focusing on decision-making, motivation, and perceived value.
• To identify factors influencing GPs' choices of CPD activities.
• To explore strategies GPs employ for selecting and prioritizing CPD.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology following JBI guidelines and PRISMA-ScR reporting standards.
• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, ERIC, Scopus, Informit, APA PsycINFO) and grey literature.
• Inclusion of empirical research on GPs' CPD engagement in primary care settings with mandated CPD.

Main Results:

• Synthesizes evidence on personal, professional, contextual, organizational, and systemic factors influencing GP CPD choices.
• Identifies strategies used by GPs to identify, select, and prioritize CPD activities.
• Highlights the need for practitioner-centered CPD models.

Conclusions:

• Current CPD systems may not fully align with GP needs, potentially impacting professional autonomy and practice relevance.
• Evidence synthesis can inform the development of more effective, reflective, and patient-centered CPD models.
• Optimizing CPD engagement is key to supporting lifelong learning and improving patient care outcomes.