Towards National Needs Assessment – Perceived CPD Needs of Qatar Healthcare Practitioners

Background: Adequate educational planning (including proper needs assessment) is considered an essential prerequisite to assure quality of Continuing Medical Education (CME) / Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities. It is, therefore, one of the core standards of accreditation systems, including Qatar's National accreditation system. In March 7 2016, Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioner – Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) launched Qatar's National CME / CPD Accreditation system and framework. Since that date, all licensed healthcare practitioners (Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Allied Health Professionals and Complementary Medicine Practitioners) working in the state of Qatar are mandated to participate in CPD activities and fulfill CPD credit requirements to be able to renew their license of practice. Fifty percent of such CPD requirements are mandated to be collected from participation in accredited group learning activities. A comprehensive National Needs assessment, ther...