The Effectiveness of Continuing Professional Development Programs for General Practitioners, Family Physicians, and Nurses a Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63278/jicrcr.vi.3073Abstract
Background: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a cornerstone of modern healthcare practice, aiming to ensure that general practitioners, family physicians, and nurses maintain up-to-date clinical competencies. While CPD programs are widely implemented across healthcare systems, their effectiveness in improving professional performance and patient outcomes remains variable and under continuous investigation.
Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CPD programs for general practitioners, family physicians, and nurses in enhancing clinical performance, communication, teamwork, and patient-related outcomes.
Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between January 2015 and May 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed studies assessing CPD outcomes in the target populations. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was used for quality assessment.
Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. CPD interventions ranged from online modules to simulation-based training and blended learning. Clinical performance improved in 76% of the studies, communication and teamwork in 53%, and patient outcomes in 47%. Blended and simulation-based approaches demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to traditional formats.
Conclusions: CPD programs are effective in improving the clinical competencies of primary healthcare providers and contribute to enhanced patient care. Structured, context-specific, and interactive CPD formats yield the greatest impact. However, challenges such as inconsistent evaluation methods and limited data from low-resource settings remain.
