Attitudes to recertification measured over time using a validated semanticdifferential scale

Objectives This study was designed to measure the acceptability of the Roya l New Zealand College of GPs' Recertification programme to the GPs in the p rogramme. Design Questionaire study of a stratified random sample of members of the R NZCGP. Method A semantic differential attitude scale was developed and validated. The scale was administered to 300 GPs before the Recertification programme began and repeated with 100 of these GPs 18 months later. After 3 years of the programme the questionnaire was administered to the original 300 GPs. Results Baseline data showed reasonable acceptance of the concept of recert ification but by 18 months there was a significant deterioration in the way the programme was perceived and this did not change over 3 years. Many GPs were not convinced of the value of the programme.