title: The relationship between continuing education and perceived competence, professional support, and professional value among clinical psychologists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuing education is one of the means by which professionals maintain and increase their level of competence. However, the relationship between continuing education and the professional's sense of personal competence and other practice-related variables remains unclear. This study examined practicing psychologists' continuing education activities and how these relate to feelings of perceived competence, professional value, and professional support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychologists (n = 418) licensed to practice in Quebec were surveyed by pencil-and-paper mail-in survey concerning their continuing education activities, as well as their perceptions of their competence in practice, and their feelings of being professionally valued and professionally supported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that feelings of competence in practice were related to professional reading, taking courses/workshops, years being licensed, and attending psychology conferences/conventions. Feelings of professional value were related to age and participating in psychology networking groups, and feelings of professional support were related to participating in case discussion groups, supervision groups, and psychology networking groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showcase the complexity of professional development. Although relationships were found between continuing education activities and the 3 factors of interest, these relationships were moderate. Findings are discussed in the context of their value to individual psychologists, as well as to psychology licensing and regulatory boards, such as promoting participation in those activities related to feelings of competence and support.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drapeau
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Destefano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education*; D011586:Psychology, Clinical; D011792:Quebec; D011932:Reading; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D060756:Social Networking; D013192:Staff Development / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce