The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7207 p89
20 July 2002

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Pharmacists in NI support CPD, but few practise it fully

Almost 90 per cent of pharmacists who responded to a survey in Northern Ireland believe that it is essential for all practising pharmacists to participate in continuing professional development (CPD). However, few of them practise the full CPD cycle.

Of a sample of 1,689 pharmacists, about 400 responded. Of these, 43 per cent regularly identify their training needs, 16 per cent maintain a portfolio and only 14 per cent evaluate their learning. Community pharmacists, particularly those working in independent pharmacies, are less likely to support CPD than colleagues in hospital or primary care. Pharmacists who registered after 1990, women pharmacists, and those currently participating in continuing education are more likely to be supportive of CPD. Barriers to participation in CPD include lack of time, remuneration and information.

Although almost 50 per cent of respondents said that they supported the introduction of mandatory CPD, 69 per cent said that pharmacists should not be reprimanded or disciplined by professional bodies if they did not meet mandatory requirements (Journal of Social and Administrative Pharmacy 2002;19:87).

See Comment, p86