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Continuing professional development in public health medicine
Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Public health doctors need continuing professional development (CPD) tailored to their practice, especially in challenging environments. Effective CPD supports doctors in delivering the public health agenda amidst evolving healthcare structures.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Education
Background:
- Survey of public health doctors in the South Thames region.
- Aimed to coordinate continuing professional development (CPD) and guide educational activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess the needs and preferences of public health doctors for CPD.
- Inform the provision of relevant educational activities.
Main Methods:
- Postal survey of 130 public health doctors (service, academic, military).
- Achieved a 79% response rate with good representation.
Main Results:
- Doctors prefer personal, small-group, problem-solving learning.
- Epidemiology is highly rated; senior doctors seek advanced topics.
- Support exists for interprofessional learning and knowledge sharing.
Conclusions:
- Tailored CPD can enhance public health physician effectiveness in demanding situations.
- Critical evaluation of CPD relevance is crucial for supporting the public health agenda within changing structures.