Planning and delivering primary care (CPD): planners’, managers’ and consumers’ views on process and outcome

Background: A Scottish National Health Service organisation commissioned a series of continuing professional development activities for primary health care professionals across seven topic areas and coordinated their delivery. The project was offered over one year and aimed primarily to change secondary care referral practice among general practitioners. Aim: To explore the experience and views of planners relating to the planning, delivery and evaluation of continuing professional development activities for primary health care professionals. Method: The qualitative approach involved focus group and individual interviews with 22 participants. Results: The planning of this CPD programme was successfully completed and a range of lectures and workshops ensued. The period required to plan this complex programme of CPD was underestimated. Some participants declined an invitation to participate in CPD despite significant financial incentives to do so, and several of those with greatest perceived need did not take part. Dissemination of CPD learning in primary care must not be taken for granted and related preparation and provision of incentives may improve this. CPD planners should consider including process and personal knowledge rather than the habitual prioritisation of technical skills and propositional knowledge. Conclusions: Planning primary care CPD with secondary care facilitation may offer more challenges than are immediately apparent. Implementation of suggestions for improvement highlighted here may well result in increased participation and greater impact of CPD.