Mandatory continuing professional development in South Africa: Rehabilitation therapists' perspective.

Aims: In 2007, Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) introduced mandatory continuing professional development (CPD), which enables therapists to acquire new knowledge and skills to improve patient care. To remain registered, therapists must meet CPD standards by formal HPCSA audits; how...

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Published in:International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 343 - 352
Main Author: Maharaj, Sonill Sooknunan
Format: questionnaire/scale research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Mark Allen Holdings Limited Jul2013
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2013
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      pub: Mark Allen Holdings Limited
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        10.12968/ijtr.2013.20.7.343
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        atl: Mandatory continuing professional development in South Africa: Rehabilitation therapists' perspective.
      aug:
        au: Maharaj, Sonill Sooknunan
        affil: Head of Physiotherapy, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
      sug:
        subj:
          Professional Development Standards
          Physical Therapists South Africa
          Professional Compliance
          Government Agencies South Africa
          Occupational Therapists South Africa
          Speech-Language Pathologists South Africa
          South Africa
          Audit
          Physical Therapist Attitudes
          Occupational Therapist Attitudes
          Speech-Language Pathologist Attitudes
          Attitude Measures
          Economics
          Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
          Time Factors
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Descriptive Research
          Questionnaires
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          Thematic Analysis
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Female
          Male
          Human
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Female
          Male
      ab: Aims: In 2007, Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) introduced mandatory continuing professional development (CPD), which enables therapists to acquire new knowledge and skills to improve patient care. To remain registered, therapists must meet CPD standards by formal HPCSA audits; however, latest figures revealed a compliance rate of 35% due to non-attendance of CPD activities. This study reviewed the experiences of therapists to identify barriers and obtain suggestions to improve attendance. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study used a questionnaire with closed and open questions to explore the aims from a sample of 138 rehabilitation therapists, comprising speech and language therapists (9%), occupational therapists (21%) and physiotherapists (70%), attending an ethics workshop. Results: Eighty five (62%) supported CPD and 97 (71%) supported compulsory ethics. Short 1 to 3 day courses, mini-congresses and journal club activities were the most frequently-attended events. Barriers to CPD were: time, cost of courses, cost of travel due to geographical distance, staff shortages, lack of employee support, and multi-disciplinary or inappropriate courses. Suggestions for improving attendance were: introducing state subsidised and corporate sponsorships, increased in-service journal club activities, tele- and video-conferences, online presentations, and profession-specific courses. Conclusion: Therapists support mandatory CPD, but stakeholders must take cognisance of the barriers and suggestions to improve CPD attendance and compliance.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        questionnaire/scale
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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