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Cited by 147Innovations in Medical EducationHuman Resource Development and Performance EvaluationHealth Sciences Research and Education

Effect of Continuing Professional Development on Health Professionals’ Performance and Patient Outcomes: A Scoping Review of Knowledge Syntheses

Samuel, Anita, Cervero, Ronald M., Durning, Steven J., Maggio, Lauren A.·2021·Academic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/acm.0000000000003899
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Abstract

PURPOSE: Continuing professional development (CPD) programs, which aim to enhance health professionals' practice and improve patient outcomes, are offered to practitioners across the spectrum of health professions through both formal and informal learning activities. Various knowledge syntheses (or reviews) have attempted to summarize the CPD literature; however, these have primarily focused on continuing medical education or formal learning activities. Through this scoping review, the authors seek to answer the question, What is the current landscape of knowledge syntheses focused on the impact of CPD on health professionals' performance, defined as behavior change and/or patient outcomes? METHOD: In September 2019, the authors searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, ERIC, and PsycINFO for knowledge syntheses published between 2008 and 2019 that focused on independently practicing health professionals and reported outcomes at Kirkpatrick's level 3 and/or 4. RESULTS: Of the 7,157 citations retrieved from databases, 63 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Of these 63 syntheses, 38 (60%) included multicomponent approaches, and 29 (46%) incorporated eLearning interventions-either standalone or in combination with other interventions. While a majority of syntheses (n = 42 [67%]) reported outcomes affecting health care practitioners' behavior change and/or patient outcomes, most of the findings reported at Kirkpatrick level 4 were not statistically significant. Ten of the syntheses (16%) mentioned the cost of interventions though this was not their primary focus. CONCLUSIONS: Across health professions, CPD is an umbrella term incorporating formal and informal approaches in a multicomponent approach. eLearning is increasing in popularity but remains an emerging technology. Several of the knowledge syntheses highlighted concerns regarding both the financial and human costs of CPD offerings, and such costs are being increasingly addressed in the CPD literature.

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  • Existing evidence about the design and outcomes of CCPs is mixed.

    “Although mandatory continuing professional development is an approach that is used widely by professional regulators globally, existing evidence about the design and outcomes of CCPs is mixed [18,247–251].”

    From Nursing regulation in Canada: Insights from a scoping review (2025) · cites this paper as [250]

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Authors
Samuel, A., Cervero, R. M., Durning, S. J., & Maggio, L. A.
Affiliations
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
Corresponding author
Samuel, Anita
ORCID
Venue
Academic Medicine
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2021-05-25
Volume
96
Issue
6
Pages
913-923
ISSN
1040-2446 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/acm.0000000000003899
OpenAlex
W3116797229
Cited by
147
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 3
FWCI
1.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Academic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Human Resource Development and Performance Evaluation
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
Keywords
continuing professional development, healthcare workers, professional development programs, Kirkpatrick levels, patient outcomes, online learning, multicomponent intervention, continuing medical education
MeSH terms
Education, Continuing, Humans, Professional Competence, Professional Practice, Patient Satisfaction, Quality Improvement, Patient Outcome Assessment

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