The analysis of the needs of Free State emergency care practitioners with regard to continuousprofessional development

[摘要] English: The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) recognises and endorses continuing professional development as a means of ensuring best possible practice to the public. The lack of literature regarding continuing professional development for emergency medical care practitioners and the number of non-compliant emergency medical care practitioners, provided evidence for the need to investigate the possible needs faced by emergency medical care practitioners to be compliant to the HPCSA guidelines for continuing professional development in South Africa.The overall goal of the study was to conduct an analysis of the needs of Free State emergency medical care practitioners with regard to continuous professional development.A literature study was done to gain a deeper understanding of continuous professional development with reference to health professionals and specifically emergency medical care practitioners. A questionnaire was compiled considering some barriers that were identified which affected compliance with continuous professional development regulations. The questionnaire was compiled electronically and printed in a hard copy using the Evasys system. The target population was emergency medical care practitioners in the Free State province that were active and registered with the HPCSA.The study revealed that resources, improved communication and access to continuous professional development activities were the main needs of emergency medical care practitioners. Although there were some limitations during this study, it was evident that continuous professional development accreditors, and continuous professional development service providers need to plan, organise and provide information in advance for emergency medical care practitioners to be able to attend continuous professional development activities. Addressing the needs of emergency medical care practitioners with regard to continuous professional development will contribute positively not only towards the workplace but to the community at large.

[发布机构] University of the Free State