What if continuing education became mandatory? Opinions of Belgian community pharmacists

Objective: In July 2003, a survey (n = 1032) was conducted on issues related to continuing education for community pharmacists. This study aims to explore specific results of this survey in-depth. The objectives were to examine how current continuing education courses can be optimised, how much interest pharmacists have in distance learning, and how pharmacists think about mandatory continuing education. Setting: Community pharmacy in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Method: Six focus group discussions were held: two with attenders (n = 14), two with non-attenders (n = 13), and two with the management of the Institute for Permanent Study for Pharmacists (n = 12). A theme plan was used to moderate discussions. Framework analysis was applied to analyse data. Key findings: To optimise live courses, continuing education providers should select good speakers, provide extensive course notes, and focus on issues that are relevant to day-to-day pharmacy practice. The interest in distance learning as a continuing education format was limited. Non-attenders are likely to need a formal obligation to engage in continuing education, with the preferred format being live courses. By increasing patients' awareness and appreciation of pharmacists' capabilities, pharmacists could be more motivated to counsel patients, to engage in continuing education, and to accept a system of mandatory continuing education. Conclusion: Implementation of mandatory continuing education in Belgium might encourage more pharmacists to take part in live continuing education courses than in distance learning. The arguments for and against mandatory continuing education as well as the suggestions for improvement of live continuing education courses should be taken into account when implementing a system of mandatory continuing education. © 2007 The Authors.status: publishe