J Pitts1, S Vincent. 1. Wessex Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development in General Practice, Wessex Regional Health Authority.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A proposal to run a higher professional education course attracted strong initial interest. However, only 12% of those 74 general practitioners expressing an interest subsequently enrolled on the course. AIM: A study was undertaken to examine the factors that demotivated the remaining 88% from attending. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to the non-attenders, asking them to rank the impact of each of six factors on their decision not to attend. RESULTS: Major factors included time commitment, general practice workload and family pressures. Cost, attitudes of practice partners and structure of the course were much less important. CONCLUSION: It seems that the conditions imposed by the current demands of working as a general practitioner, rather than the attitudes of the general practitioners themselves, inhibit this form of continuing professional development.
BACKGROUND: A proposal to run a higher professional education course attracted strong initial interest. However, only 12% of those 74 general practitioners expressing an interest subsequently enrolled on the course. AIM: A study was undertaken to examine the factors that demotivated the remaining 88% from attending. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to the non-attenders, asking them to rank the impact of each of six factors on their decision not to attend. RESULTS: Major factors included time commitment, general practice workload and family pressures. Cost, attitudes of practice partners and structure of the course were much less important. CONCLUSION: It seems that the conditions imposed by the current demands of working as a general practitioner, rather than the attitudes of the general practitioners themselves, inhibit this form of continuing professional development.