Abstract
Introduction:Continuing professional development (CPD) with corresponding crediting system is recognized as essential for the laboratory medicine specialists to provide optimal service for the patients. Article presents results of the survey evaluating current CPD crediting practice among members of European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM).Materials and methods:A questionnaire had been forwarded to presidents/national representatives of all EFLM members, with invitation to provide information about CPD programmes and crediting policies, as well as feedback on individual CPD categories, through scoring their relevance.Results:Complete or partial answers were received from 28 of 38 members. In 23 countries, CPD programmes exist and earn credits, with 19 of them offering access to non-medical scientists. CPD activities are evaluated in all participating countries, regardless to the existence of an official CPD programme. Among participating members with mandatory specialists’ licensing (22/28), CPD is a prerequisite for relicensing in 13 countries. Main categories recognized as CPD are: continuing education (24 countries), article/book (17/14 countries) authorship and distance learning (14 countries). The highest median score of relevance (20) is allocated to professional training, editor/authorship and official activities in professional organizations, with the first category showing the least variation among scores.Conclusions:Majority of EFLM members have developed CPD programmes, regularly evaluated and accompanied by crediting systems. Programmes differ in accessibility for non-medical scientists and impact on relicensing eligibility. Continuing education, authorship and e-learning are mainly recognized as CPD activities, although the professional training is appreciated as the most important individual CPD category.
Highlights
Continuing professional development (CPD) with corresponding crediting system is recognized as essential for the laboratory medicine specialists to provide optimal service for the patients
In order to ensure the best possible laboratory service to the patient, it is essential for laboratory medicine specialists to keep abreast with a broad range of new-emerging issues that have the potential to influence laboratory practice and patient care
In separate part of the third group, participants were offered nine different continuing medical education (CME)/CPD categories and asked to add 1-30 credits/points to each category according to their own judgment of importance
Summary
Continuing professional development (CPD) with corresponding crediting system is recognized as essential for the laboratory medicine specialists to provide optimal service for the patients. Article presents results of the survey evaluating current CPD crediting practice among members of European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM). In order to ensure the best possible laboratory service to the patient, it is essential for laboratory medicine specialists to keep abreast with a broad range of new-emerging issues that have the potential to influence laboratory practice and patient care. The most appropriate way to achieve this goal is integration of continuing professional development (CPD) in the clinical laboratory education continuum. The main prerequisites for initial registration in EC4 are nine to ten years of under- and post-graduate studies.
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