CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN HAMAD MEDICAL CORPORATION: OVERVIEW OF LABORATORY AND NURSING STAFFS CURRENT PRACTICE AND FUTURE PREFERENCES

Abstract

Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) launched the current continuous professional program (CPD). According to the QCHP regulations, laboratory staffs and nurses are obligated to comply with the requirements for their annual license renewal. In this study, laboratory staffs and nurses employed by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) were surveyed to identify their current CPD practice and the number of CPD credit hours obtained so far. In addition, it examines their preferences towards future CPD activities, motivational aspects or challenges the face in pursuing CPD goals. A total response counts of 201 was achieved from both groups across HMC. Results showed that nurses where more aware of the new requirements and almost completed the annual required CPD credit hours. However, laboratory staffs where seen falling behind and having insufficient numbers of CPD credit hours. Both groups of laboratory staffs and nurses were favorable of CPD activities within working hours and during weekdays. In general, responses showed that HMC were meeting the needs of laboratory staffs and nurses for their CPD credit hours. However, workload and shortage of time were barriers that prevented staffs from both groups to achieve their CPD goals. Sufficient time off from work was considered important, whereas responses regarding the importance of cash incentives to achieve CPD goals varied between the two groups.