Abstract
Abstract : The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of homoeopathic practitioners in South Africa with regards to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme, to determine if practitioners are aware of the programme, how it is run, what the requirements of the programme are and if they are complying to the requirements of this programme. The sample group for this study consisted of homoeopathic practitioners in South Africa that have been registered as such before the 01 July 2015, as this is when the second CPD cycle began. An online survey was set up and the link for the survey was send out to 581 practitioners, 97 practitioners elected to participate in this survey. The CPD survey (Appendix F) was created based on a previous CPD study that was used by Schostak et al. (2009) in the United Kingdom and based on the considerations of the AHPCSA’s CPD guidelines. The survey was done online with most of the questions being closed-ended, with a few open-ended questions. A total of 581 homoeopathic practitioners were emailed, whereby only 97 elected to partake in the study. All potential participants had to complete an eligibility question (Appendix D), whereby participants had to confirm being registered as a homoeopath before 01 July 2015. Respondents perceived the CPD programme as being an effective educational programme that helps to encourage skills development of professionals. The most popular level of activities that practitioners had accumulate the most Continuing Educational Units (CEUs), was for level 1, with lesser participation for high CEU earning options in level 2 and 3. The most significant negative opinion of the programme was due to costs allocated to CPD activities, which included travel expenses, accommodation expenses and lastly the attendance fees. Compliance with holding a first aid qualification was low. As this is a requirement for registration added to the associated CPD options for this criterion, first aid requirements are recommended to be reconsidered to assist with basic compliance. For smoother comprehension and compliance with CPD requirements by practitioners it is recommended that the Allied Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) reconsider the matrix of CEU allocations particularly related to first aid, standardisation of congresses or course attendance. CPD providers also need to be encouraged to provide a variety of online courses as this would assist practitioners that are not based in major cities as well as considering the offering of bioethics and jurisprudence courses allowing for easy compliance for this requirement.
M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)