Med Educ. 2002 Apr; 36(4): 317-24.

Chiropractors' attitudes to, and perceptions of, the impact of continuing professional education on clinical practice.

Bolton JE.

Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Bournemouth, UK. jbolton@aecc.ac.uk

OBJECTIVES: As with other health care professions, there is a need for chiropractors to maintain their clinical competencies through continuing professional education (CPE) and development (CPD). This study set out to evaluate chiropractors' attitudes to, and opinions of, current CPE provision, and their perceived needs for the future. In particular, their perceptions of the impact of CPE on clinical practice were assessed. DESIGN: A survey in which primary quantitative and secondary qualitative data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire concentrated on four areas: (i) attitudes to CPE; (ii) impact of current CPE on practice; (iii) modes of delivery most likely to change practice; and (iv) future learning needs from continuing education programmes. RESPONDENTS: A random sample of chiropractors registered with the British Chiropractic Association. RESULTS: Overall, chiropractors were positive to CPE and cognisant of the need to keep up to date. However, in spite of several benefits, chiropractors did not perceive current CPE to be instrumental in changing practice. As might be expected, chiropractors perceived clinical updates and hands-on practical workshops to be most effective in changing clinical practice. DISCUSSION: There is currently considerable debate surrounding the ability of CPE and CPD to actually make a difference to the way clinicians practice. This study describes a method of evaluating the impact of CPE/D in changing clinical practice from the viewpoint of the practitioners themselves.