Continuing professional development in the last decade – A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Continuing professional development (CPD) provides support to healthcare workers to keep up to date with best practices and addresses deficits in their knowledge and practice. Aim: The purpose of this scoping review is to summarise data from the past decade on CPD models. Method: For this scoping review, we searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases and conducted a grey literature search for studies/documents describing models of CPD. We limited our search to those written in English and published since 2010. Results: 74 references were included. These were grouped under two main questions: (1) What CPD models are available in various settings globally? (2) What are the perceptions and views of medical practitioners towards these? Under the first question, they were grouped into six categories: (a) Legislation, theoretical framework/learning theories, (b) CME credit systems, revalidation/recertification and maintenance of certification, (c) content delivery (choice of format), (d) quality standards, monitoring and evaluation, (e) funding and (f) country/region CPD models. Conclusions: CPD should be supported by appropriate legislation and policy, be directed at the needs of practitioners, and based on adult learning theory, have a mechanism in place for evaluation and improvement and have sustainable funding.