Developing electronic tools for continuing professional development for Finnish physicians: a usability study in a primary health care setting

Abstract

In Finland, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is voluntary with an ethical and legal obligation for physicians. As medical knowledge is expanding and health care delivery becoming more complex, there is a need to promote physicians’ continuing professional development throughout their careers.

The Taitoni-platform is a personal web tool designed to manage and support physicians’ CPD through both formal and informal learning activities. The tool is accompanied by and linked to an interactive national Continuing Medical Education (CME) calendar and contains data of individual qualifications and workplace history. Platform use and usability are being tested at Helsinki Health Centre. The users included both general practitioners and hospital specialists. In the future, Taitoni may provide data for a possible national revalidation process.

Keywords::

• competence
• continuing medical education
• telephony

Acknowledgments

Physicians of the Helsinki City Health Centre participating and chief physicians, Antti Iivanainen, Ari Aimolahti, Leea Muhonen, from Medical Society Duodecim Peter Eriksson, Ilkka Kunnamo, Juha-Pekka Turunen, Finnish Medical Association Teemu Linna and Data Prisma Ltd Jukka-Pekka Kurki.

Declaration of interest

Transparency

This paper was produced in the development project of Pro Medico. Pro Medico is an independent association funded by the Finnish Medical Association, The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim and The Finnish Swedish speaking Medical Society, FLS. Helsinki Health Centre physicians contributed to the pilot as a part of their everyday work.

Author Disclosure

KP, TL, PS and AH have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Peer Reviewers Disclosure

Peer Reviewers 1 and 2 have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.