CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN: AWARENESS, CONSTRAINTS, AND NEED FOR REFORMS

Main Article Content

Tahera Ayub
Shirjeel Husain
Sahar Abbasi
Syed Akbar Abbas Zaidi
Syed Zafar Abbas
Kulsoom Zahir

Keywords

Health care professionals, CME, EBP (Evidence-Based Practice)

Abstract

Objective

The study aims to determine the level of awareness amongst health care providers including academicians, clinicians, under and post-graduate students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and allied health sciences across Pakistan. Furthermore, the study will conclude the constraints and barriers in way of establishing a strong continuing education culture in our institutes in Pakistan while need for reforms will also be addressed.


Study Design: This cross-sectional study following STROBE statement
Place and Duration of the Study: Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry and duration from 3rd January 2021 till 12th march 2021.
Methodology: Mixed methodology design was employed comprises of the focus group discussion which was undertaken amongst 30 participants to communicate the qualitative section whilst a comprehensive online questionnaire with close ended questions was made and gathered responses from 384 participants to quantify the results and makes it more genraliseable.

Results: Results were suggestive of the fact that awareness amongst health care professional including academicians, post-graduate, under-graduate students, and clinicians was 69%-44%, however, the constraining factors are about 62% participants believe is lack of separate regulating bodies and most individuals are highly doubtful regarding the credibility of the sources of CME that are currently conducting CME sessions in Pakistan. Whilst 63% respondents feels that barrier can be handled effectively by making the reforms and ensure their effective implementation.


 


Conclusion: The constraining factors in strengthening of continues professional development and evidence based practises in Pakistan are lack of separate regulating bodies and most individuals are highly doubtful regarding the credibility of the sources of CME that are currently conducting CME sessions in Pakistan. The barrier can be handled effectively by making the reforms and ensure their effective implementation.

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