A needs assessment for continuing professional development in primary care nursing

Abstract

The theoretical framework and research design of this report aims to explore different aspects of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of nurses working in all eight centres in Primary Health Care in Malta. This study was designed to explore salient variables (the programme content needs, flexibility of study and preferred learning strategies) in the primary care nurses' self-reports of CPD needs assessment. The research consisted of two main methods: a focus group and a questionnaire survey. The data of the focus group interview influenced the design and content of the drafted questionnaire. The research tool was pilot tested and then was later distributed to nurses (N = 168) who met the required inclusion criteria. Results showed the nurses' different CPD educational I training priorities, their preferred learning mode and time of attendance of CPD activities together with other related issues to CPD strategies. Obstacles to the uptake of CPD opportunities are outlined, and some of the issues behind these explored. The evaluation of existing CPD activities are reviewed along with implications to motivation, management and policy and change management. Finally the main conclusions were outlined. Recommendations for planning future CPD programmes were also analysed.