Continuing professional development in occupational medicine for general practitioners.
BACKGROUND
The Health and Occupation Reporting (THOR) network for general practitioners (GPs) offers free online continuing professional development (CPD) to contributing GPs. Use of this resource by members is relatively low. Non-uptake is most frequently attributed to lack of time.


OBJECTIVE
The primary aim was to assess the effects of changes made to educational material, available online to GPs participating in THOR-GP, 1 year after a needs assessment which informed the changes. The secondary aim, developed from the findings of the original study, was to compare contributing GPs who undertake work in occupational medicine, with those who do not, in terms of uptake of the educational material and of educational need.


METHODS
GPs participating in THOR-GP, who responded to a questionnaire to assess their use of THOR-GP's website for CPD, were sent a follow-up questionnaire 1 year after the original survey. Both questionnaires comprised scales derived from the syllabus for the Diploma of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and questions about attitudes to CPD in occupational medicine.


RESULTS
No change was found in uptake of or rating of components of the website, following modification. Responders worked on average seven sessions per week in general practice and 1.5 sessions in occupational medicine. GPs working in occupational medicine reported greater confidence in some subject areas than GPs not currently working in occupational medicine and were also more likely to engage in CPD activity within the specialty of occupational medicine.


CONCLUSIONS
Undertaking work in occupational medicine increases confidence in the subject and stimulates the use of related educational facilities.
Thorley
Kevan
K
Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Manchester, Humanities Devas Street, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Turner
Susan
S
Hussey
Louise
L
Agius
Raymond
R
D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires