Hospital doctors’ views of their CPD and its relationship to learning in the organization

Abstract

Continuing professional development (CPD) has traditionally been an autonomous, professional concern of doctors in the UK. In a changing educational and service climate, can individualized approaches to CPD be reconciled with adult learning principles and learning that is practice-based and multidisciplinary? A survey of the CPD of consultant and non-consultant career grade staff in Wales (UK) has provided some clues on how doctors perceive their learning needs in relation to those of Trust hospitals. It indicated that these doctors pursued traditional forms of continuing education (reading, lectures and meetings), gained clinical knowledge and changed their practice as a result. The majority saw themselves as accountable for CPD to their college and specialty. Trusts had yet to promote CPD as a clinical governance priority but respondents felt that appraisal helped to mediate individual and organizational perspectives of CPD. Most career-grade doctors believed their CPD activities met the needs of their employing organizations and felt satisfied with a ‘traditional’ approach to CPD. Doctors and service organizations may need to confront preconceptions regarding education and respective roles in the negotiation of CPD if team-based learning in practice is to become established.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephen Brigley

STEPHEN BRIGLEY is Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at the Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, where he directs distance learning, teaches medical education and pursues research interests in CPD, portfolio learning and assessment, reflective practice and service-based learning.

Cindy Johnson

CINDY JOHNSON, formerly a lecturer and researcher in medical education at the Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, is now the Royal College of Surgeons (Eng) Coordinator responsible for maintaining standards in Wales at a time of structural reorganization in postgraduate medical education across the UK.

James Bird

JAMES BIRD, formerly teacher and researcher in medical education at the Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, now works as a primary school teacher and PGCE tutor in Oxfordshire (UK). His research interests include IT in education and the development of CPD systems.

Howard Young

HOWARD YOUNG is a Professor and Vice Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education in the Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University. He is responsible for the commissioning and quality assurance of education and training for over 2000 hospital training grade doctors in Wales, an works as a consultant colorectal surgeon in Cardiff.