Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation

Background: The availability of continuing professional development (CPD) activities does not necessarily translate into good participation by health practitioners. Reasons for low participation include time constraints, cost of some activities, irrelevant material and lack of access. This study aim...

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Main Authors: Rodney H. Magwenya, Andrew J. Ross
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2021-11-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5395
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author Rodney H. Magwenya
Andrew J. Ross
author_facet Rodney H. Magwenya
Andrew J. Ross
author_sort Rodney H. Magwenya
collection DOAJ
description Background: The availability of continuing professional development (CPD) activities does not necessarily translate into good participation by health practitioners. Reasons for low participation include time constraints, cost of some activities, irrelevant material and lack of access. This study aimed to explore the views of medical practitioners’ working in Eswatini regarding the factors that affect their participation in CPD programmes. Methods: A qualitative study using seven in-depth semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions (FGDs) of medical officers working in the public heath sectors in Eswatini was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021. Open-ended questions were used to explore factors that both motivate and demotivate medical officers participation in CPD activities. The interviews and FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, the qualitative data were analysed using the thematic approach. Results: The emerging motivating themes described by the participants were: (1) professional responsibility and (2) personal interest and learning need. Whilst the demotivating factors were: (1) non-relevance to clinical practice, (2) cost of participation, (3) lack of reward, and (4) no recognition for staying up-to-date. Conclusion: The motivating factors are associated with deep learning and linked well with the principles of adult learning. The demotivating factors found were in keeping with findings from other studies in a variety of countries. It is important for the Medical Council and CPD organisers to be aware of the different motivations and de-motivations for practitioners to engage in CPD to enable them to plan and implement their programmes effectively.
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spelling doaj-art-77e42ce75da74da18aa6c8c7c41b3f362025-08-20T04:03:13ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042021-11-01631e1e710.4102/safp.v63i1.53954192Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participationRodney H. Magwenya0Andrew J. Ross1Outpatient Department, Mankayane Government Hospital, Mankayane, Eswatini, South Africa; and, Department Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDepartment Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanBackground: The availability of continuing professional development (CPD) activities does not necessarily translate into good participation by health practitioners. Reasons for low participation include time constraints, cost of some activities, irrelevant material and lack of access. This study aimed to explore the views of medical practitioners’ working in Eswatini regarding the factors that affect their participation in CPD programmes. Methods: A qualitative study using seven in-depth semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions (FGDs) of medical officers working in the public heath sectors in Eswatini was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021. Open-ended questions were used to explore factors that both motivate and demotivate medical officers participation in CPD activities. The interviews and FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, the qualitative data were analysed using the thematic approach. Results: The emerging motivating themes described by the participants were: (1) professional responsibility and (2) personal interest and learning need. Whilst the demotivating factors were: (1) non-relevance to clinical practice, (2) cost of participation, (3) lack of reward, and (4) no recognition for staying up-to-date. Conclusion: The motivating factors are associated with deep learning and linked well with the principles of adult learning. The demotivating factors found were in keeping with findings from other studies in a variety of countries. It is important for the Medical Council and CPD organisers to be aware of the different motivations and de-motivations for practitioners to engage in CPD to enable them to plan and implement their programmes effectively.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5395continuing medical educationcontinuing professional developmentmedical practitioners’ viewsmotivationbarriersadult learning theory
spellingShingle Rodney H. Magwenya
Andrew J. Ross
Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation
South African Family Practice
continuing medical education
continuing professional development
medical practitioners’ views
motivation
barriers
adult learning theory
title Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation
title_full Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation
title_fullStr Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation
title_full_unstemmed Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation
title_short Continuing professional development in Eswatini: Factors affecting medical practitioners’ participation
title_sort continuing professional development in eswatini factors affecting medical practitioners participation
topic continuing medical education
continuing professional development
medical practitioners’ views
motivation
barriers
adult learning theory
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5395
work_keys_str_mv AT rodneyhmagwenya continuingprofessionaldevelopmentineswatinifactorsaffectingmedicalpractitionersparticipation
AT andrewjross continuingprofessionaldevelopmentineswatinifactorsaffectingmedicalpractitionersparticipation