Continuous Professional Development - Development of a Framework for Medical Doctors in Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To explore how doctors in Pakistan perceive the need for their continuous professional development in order to develop a framework for implementation. Design: A cross sectional random survey in which quantitative and qualitative data was collected using self-administered questionnaire survey. Setting: 500 medical doctors across Pakistan Results: There is a unanimous need for structured and organized Continuous Professional Development program. However, opinion differs on the issue of Mandatory versus Voluntary professional development (67.3% vs. 32.7%) as well as monitoring and administration of the program. Conclusions: Based on the responses received a framework for planning a structured continuous professional development program is proposed identifying various issues that need to be addressed in the planning and implementation.