GP selection of postgraduate education courses has implications for colleagues: messages for course providers and for those writing practice professional development plans

Background: The Department of Health's review of continuing professional development in general practice advocates setting team and individual goals. Aim: To explore how general practitioners (GPs) share learning experiences with colleagues, focusing on how GPs choose courses as one factor influencing sharing. Method: Interviews were conducted with 21 GPs using grounded theory methodology. The responses were coded by six researchers from psychology, education, and general practice. Results: Much sharing with colleagues took place, though not always immediately following a course. GP explanations revealed four reasons for course selection that influenced the degree of sharing: 1. Attendance to meet group needs encouraged rapid sharing and could involve course attendance with colleagues. 2. Attendance to enhance 'special interests' could either encourage or inhibit sharing. 3. Attendance in pursuit of 'personal interests' peripheral to general practice did not result in sharing within the primary care team. 4. Attendance to meet personal learning needs did not involve sharing when needs were not currently shared with colleagues. Conclusion: Course selection and subsequent sharing have implications for course providers and those writing personal and practice professional development plans