title: Quantity and distribution of continuing professional education opportunities among healthcare workers in Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite their importance, continuing professional education opportunities have been rarely addressed in literature. This study explains how continuing professional education opportunities among the healthcare workers in Ghana are distributed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A census was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire (N = 6,696). Three focus group discussions with a total of 23 healthcare workers were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that the quantities of continuing professional education opportunities were unequally distributed. The total continuing professional education opportunities were greater than the target of the Ministry of Health but fewer than healthcare workers' demand. Type of occupational group was the major determinant of continuing professional education opportunities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To ensure homogeneously appropriate quality of services, continuing professional education opportunities should be equally distributed.
authors.affiliation: Institute for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aiga
authors.forename: Chushi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003906:Developing Countries; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005869:Ghana; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires