Creating an initial framework to judge value of digital platforms for the competency-based Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of physicians in Canada

Abstract

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a professional requirement designed to encourage ongoing development of core physician competencies in Canada and elsewhere. While there are frameworks for assessing the applicability and value of physicians’ analog CPD, the same does not exist for assessing the applicability and value of digital platforms for CPD. The guiding research question for this Project is: Could an assessment framework be created to assess the value of digital platforms for the competency-based CPD of physicians in Canada? This Project developed an initial assessment framework to assess digital platforms that coordinate and deliver CPD opportunities for Canadian physicians residing in the province of British Columbia. The working definition for digital platforms in the context of this work is: Any platform to combine and deploy the use of digital technologies to incubate and coordinate an educational ecosystem for physicians and medical specialists. This Project developed and provided a framework to assess digital platforms for CPD planning purposes and to foster relatable and understandable insights for CPD program providers and physician learners. Emergent assessment criteria for physician CPD were adapted from other educational-professional contexts uncovered during a review of relevant literature. The target group of participants for the Project-associated survey were physicians practicing medicine in Canada. Physicians’ perspectives informed Project emergent framework development.