Affiliation:
1. Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark
2. Research Unit and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Continuous medical education is essential for the individual patient care, the society, and the wellbeing of the general practitioner. There has been research into the reasons for participation in continuous medical education, but little is known about the barriers to participation. To be able to tailor continuous medical education to general practitioners who are currently deselecting education, we require systematic knowledge of the barriers.
Continuous medical education can stimulate job satisfaction, diminish burnout, and reinforce feelings of competence. Delayed retirement is seen among general practitioners who thrive in their job. General practitioners’ mental well-being may have positive implications for their patients and for healthcare expenditures. Educational activities show promise as a strategy to recruit and retain physicians in less attractive specialties.
Despite renumeration and a comprehensive continuous education model not all Danish general practitioners participate in continuous medical education.
Methods: 243 out of a total of 3440 Danish general practitioners did not apply for reimbursement for accredited continuous medical education in a two-year period. 10 general practitioners were selected for an interview regarding maximum variation in practice form, number of listed patients, seniority as a general practitioner, geography, gender, and age. All 10 selected general practitioners accepted to be interviewed. The interviews were analysed using Systematic Text Condensation.
Results: Each of the 10 interviewed general practitioners mentions several barriers for participating in continuous education. The barriers fall into three main categories:
· barriers related to the individual general practitioner
· barriers related to the clinic
· barriers related to the accredited continuous medical education offered
Conclusions: Less than 7% of the Danish general practitioners did not participate in accredited remunerated continuous medical education. It corresponds to 400.000 listed patients having a general practitioner who does not participate in accredited continuous education. The barriers for participating fall into three main categories. A knowledge of the barriers for participating in accredited continuous medical education can be used to better target continuous medical education to some of the general practitioners who are currently deselecting continuous education.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference33 articles.
1. Continuing education meetings and workshops: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes;Forsetlund L;Cochrane Database Syst Rev,2009
2. Continuous professional development for GPs: experience from Denmark;Kjaer NK;Postgrad Med J,2014
3. Mental well-being, job satisfaction and self-rated workability in general practitioners and hospitalisations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions among listed patients: a cohort study combining survey data on GPs and register data on patients;Nørøxe KB;BMJ Qual Saf,2019
4. Striving for the best: WONCA global standards for continuing professional development for family doctors;Ng V;Educ Prim Care,2018
5. Deliberate practice and acquisition of expert performance: a general overview;Ericsson KA;Acad Emerg Med,2008