Continuing professional education: Motivations and experiences of health and social care professional's part-time study in higher education. A qualitative literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the motivations and experiences of health and social care professionals undertaking part-time, accredited, continuing professional education in higher education.


METHODS
A review following systematic principles.


METHODS
Systematic searches for literature published between January 2000 and December 2015 using the databases: SCOPUS, Web of Science, Medline, PsychINFO, Social Policy and Practice and CINAHL.


METHODS
Studies were included if they were published in the English language and were qualitative in design, focussing on the motivations and experiences of staff engaged in part-time, accredited, higher education study. Three reviewers appraised the quality of the selected studies.


RESULTS
Thirteen qualitative studies were identified for the review. Motivating factors for staff to engage in part-time, accredited, continuing professional development study included: personal and professional drivers, influence of workplace/management and funding and availability. Key themes in relation to how staff experienced study included: the demands of adjusting to the academic requirements of higher education study; the experience of juggling competing demands of study, work and family; and the presence or absence of support for part-time study in the personal and professional arenas.


CONCLUSIONS
Health and social care professionals experience a number of challenges when engaging in part-time, continuing professional education in higher education institutions. A significant challenge is the juggling of competing demands of study, work and family, and this may have a negative impact on learning. Research is needed to inform how higher education can address the specific learning needs of this population and develop pedagogic approaches that are both responsive to need and support of effective learning.
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: simon.burrow@manchester.ac.uk.
Simon
S
Burrow
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: hilary.j.mairs@manchester.ac.uk.
Hilary
H
Mairs
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: helen.pusey@mancjhester.ac.uk.
Helen
H
Pusey
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: t.bradshaw@manchester.ac.uk.
Timothy
T
Bradshaw
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: john.keady@manchester.ac.uk.
John
J
Keady
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004517:Education, Professional; D009042:Motivation; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education*
Continuing professional development; Continuing professional education; Health and social care education; Higher education; Nursing education; Part-time study; Post registration education