title: Establishing the continuing professional development needs of general practitioners in their first five years after training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify existing and preferred methods of accessing CPD for GPs in the first five years of independent practice. To establish areas of CPD need for this group. To quantify how many First5 GPs are currently part of a small group and if they undertake CPD in this format. To investigate how First5 currently fund CPD and how much they would be willing to invest in CPD per year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online survey of RCGP members who have been on the GP register for less than five years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First5 GPs access CPD in a variety of formats. CPD provision around practice management and leadership aimed at GPs in their first five years is currently lacking. Many First5 GPs already belong to a small group but more than half find undertaking CPD in the small group is challenging. Most First5 GPs self fund their educational activity and would like to spend £500 or less per year on CPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cost-effective CPD tailored to the needs of GPs in their first five years of independent practice and delivered in a variety of formats is lacking in some educational areas. First5 GPs require formal written guidance on delivering CPD in small groups.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of General Practitioners, London, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sparrow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom