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Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on March 13, 2009
Occupational Medicine 2009 59(5):342-346; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp013
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Continuing professional development in occupational medicine for general practitioners

Kevan Thorley, Susan Turner, Louise Hussey and Raymond Agius

Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Manchester, 4th Floor, C Block, Humanities Devas Street, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

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.

Aims 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.

Keywords      Continuing medical education; continuing professional development; e-learning; general practitioners; occupational medicine; web-based learning

Correspondence to: Raymond Agius, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Manchester, 4th Floor, C Block, Humanities Devas Street, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Tel: +44 1512755531; fax: +44 1512755506; e-mail: kevan.thorley{at}manchester.ac.uk


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