Needs assessment of the residents at the Suez Canal university hospital regarding continuing professional de-velopment

Abstract EN

Background: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a continuing learning process that complements formal undergraduate and postgraduate education and training.

In order to keep the doctors’ pace with changing information and the increased demand from the public for accountability and quality service delivery there is a need for well-planned CPD activities that contribute to further improving standards and meet the identified learning needs.

Aim: To assess the needs of the residents working at the Suez Canal University Hospital regarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD).Methods: The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 113 residents affiliated to Suez Canal University Teaching Hospital.

A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to residents to assess their needs concerning CPD.

Data was presented in the form of mean, percentage and standard deviation.

T-Test was used for comparing means between different specialties and year of residency.

The questionnaire was validated through expert opinion.

Results: The results of the study showed that for most the resident, there is an importance of introducing different and structured CPD activities after graduation based on their needs, as they were not satisfied with the currently used activities of CPD (reading, lectures, scientific conferences, internet, theses, and patient contact).

Among the suggested activities of CPD, clinical training, educational courses and workshops were ranked by the residents as highly useful of achieving CPD objectives, while portfolios and electronic learning were rated as the least useful.

Also, most of the resident showed the need for CPD in some areas not directly related to their specialty such as language, administrative skills and leadership skills.

Conclusion: the study concluded that there is a real need to introduce a well-designed Program system of CPD for the resident physicians working at Suez Canal University Hospital taking in consideration the proper selection of the activities as well as the fields of training.