CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL-DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC-HEALTH MEDICINE

Background: A survey of public health doctors was undertaken in the So uth Thames region to support coordination of continuing professional d evelopment (CPD) and to guide appropriate provision of educational act ivities for those working in the specialty. Methods: A postal survey o f 130 public health doctors in service, academic and military posts in the South Thames region of the UK. Results: The response rate was 79% with good representation of grades and geographical areas. Public hea lth doctors preferred personal and small group learning particularly f ocused on problem solving. Epidemiology as a basic discipline was rate d highly by respondents, but senior doctors also showed preferences fo r topics beyond the textbooks. Respondents demonstrated that they had acquired such knowledge and skills, which could be shared in CPD sessi ons with colleagues. There was support for learning with and from non- medical colleagues. In the service posts structural change was ongoing , expectations of performance by management were high, and appropriate CPD was an expressed need, although time was seriously limited for th is activity. Conclusions: Appropriate CPD could support the effectiven ess of public health physicians in challenging circumstances. However, a critical evaluation of the relevance of CPD programmes to public he alth practice is essential if CPD is to support doctors in delivering the public health agenda in the changing structures within which they work.