An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment

The aims of this regional assessment of continuing medical education (CME)/continuing professional development (CPD) systems in Latin America were to describe the current requirements, if any, for physicians to engage in CME/CPD, explore perceptions of national CME/CPD systems from in-country subjec...

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Main Authors: Lawrence Sherman, Ricardo Leon-Borquez, Mildred Lopez, Kathy Chappell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of CME
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28338073.2024.2427765
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author Lawrence Sherman
Ricardo Leon-Borquez
Mildred Lopez
Kathy Chappell
author_facet Lawrence Sherman
Ricardo Leon-Borquez
Mildred Lopez
Kathy Chappell
author_sort Lawrence Sherman
collection DOAJ
description The aims of this regional assessment of continuing medical education (CME)/continuing professional development (CPD) systems in Latin America were to describe the current requirements, if any, for physicians to engage in CME/CPD, explore perceptions of national CME/CPD systems from in-country subject matter experts (SMEs), to describe the perceptions of interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) and independent CME/CPD from in-country physicians and to provide recommendations that may be adopted by organisations/countries to improve the quality and effectiveness of their current CME/CPD systems and better meet their learners’ needs. An assessment of 11 CME/CPD systems in Latin America was conducted using a mixed-methods approach that included 1:1 interviews with in-country SMEs and an electronic survey capturing qualitative and quantitative data from practicing in-country physicians. This assessment reflected countries with CME/CPD systems that are in various stages of maturity. Only three countries have systems that are self-regulated by the profession, several systems lack independence from pharmaceutical influence, and educational activities are described more in terms of traditional CME/CPD as compared to education focused on individual or team gaps or population health care needs. There was little description of incorporating learner self-assessment and evaluation of change and little focus on interprofessional education. This mixed-method assessment of 11 Latin American countries demonstrated CME/CPD systems that are developing in maturity. Participation was often voluntary, and there was relatively little regulation. Physicians overall have been resistant to regulation and have preferred to use a voluntary, incentive-based model. There was a relatively high degree of influence by the pharmaceutical industry. Affordability and access remain challenges. There is an opportunity to better tie country/population health outcomes to CME/CPD, implement interprofessional continuing education, increase faculty skills and learner engagement, and increase funding and access across geographic regions.
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spelling doaj-art-eafb7ebbc06a4a4d861b6cf5c6ff1a872025-08-20T02:33:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of CME2833-80732024-12-0113110.1080/28338073.2024.2427765An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods AssessmentLawrence Sherman0Ricardo Leon-Borquez1Mildred Lopez2Kathy Chappell3Executive Office, Meducate Global, LLC, Tierra Verde, FL, USAExecutive Office, World Federation for Medical Education, MexicoCoordinacion de Educacion en Salud, Instituto Mexicano del Segura Social, MexicoExecutive Office, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USAThe aims of this regional assessment of continuing medical education (CME)/continuing professional development (CPD) systems in Latin America were to describe the current requirements, if any, for physicians to engage in CME/CPD, explore perceptions of national CME/CPD systems from in-country subject matter experts (SMEs), to describe the perceptions of interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) and independent CME/CPD from in-country physicians and to provide recommendations that may be adopted by organisations/countries to improve the quality and effectiveness of their current CME/CPD systems and better meet their learners’ needs. An assessment of 11 CME/CPD systems in Latin America was conducted using a mixed-methods approach that included 1:1 interviews with in-country SMEs and an electronic survey capturing qualitative and quantitative data from practicing in-country physicians. This assessment reflected countries with CME/CPD systems that are in various stages of maturity. Only three countries have systems that are self-regulated by the profession, several systems lack independence from pharmaceutical influence, and educational activities are described more in terms of traditional CME/CPD as compared to education focused on individual or team gaps or population health care needs. There was little description of incorporating learner self-assessment and evaluation of change and little focus on interprofessional education. This mixed-method assessment of 11 Latin American countries demonstrated CME/CPD systems that are developing in maturity. Participation was often voluntary, and there was relatively little regulation. Physicians overall have been resistant to regulation and have preferred to use a voluntary, incentive-based model. There was a relatively high degree of influence by the pharmaceutical industry. Affordability and access remain challenges. There is an opportunity to better tie country/population health outcomes to CME/CPD, implement interprofessional continuing education, increase faculty skills and learner engagement, and increase funding and access across geographic regions.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28338073.2024.2427765Continuing medical educationcontinuing professional developmentglobal assessmentCME/CPD systemsLatin America
spellingShingle Lawrence Sherman
Ricardo Leon-Borquez
Mildred Lopez
Kathy Chappell
An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment
Journal of CME
Continuing medical education
continuing professional development
global assessment
CME/CPD systems
Latin America
title An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment
title_full An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment
title_fullStr An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment
title_full_unstemmed An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment
title_short An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment
title_sort overview of continuing medical education continuing professional development systems in latin america a mixed methods assessment
topic Continuing medical education
continuing professional development
global assessment
CME/CPD systems
Latin America
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28338073.2024.2427765
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