engleski

Accreditation of CME/CPD programs in general practice and recertification of GPs in Europe

Background: The CME/CPD activities cover the longest period of the professional life of a general practitioner(GP). Issues of accreditation of CME/CPD events and programs in GP/FM and re-certification/re-licensing of individual GPs become more prominent over the years. Aim: To study the criteria, rules and conditions of accreditation of CME/CPD events and of re-certification of GPs in Europe. Method: Questionnaire, designed by the Euract CME/CPD Committee and distributed among all the Euract member states, i.e. their country representatives (N=39). Results: Representatives from 29 country answered the questionnaire (74%), 13 from eastern and 16 from western European countries. An accreditation system for CME/CPD events exists in 26 countries. It is mandatory in 15 and voluntary in 11 countries. Most often the authorities responsible for the accreditation is one or several of the following: medical chamber, universities, government body or scientific societies. In 23 countries there are clearly defined criteria for accreditation. A recertification procedure for GPs exists in 18 of the 29 countries, in all eastern European countries and in 5 western ones. Mostly, the re-certification procedure is mandatory in eastern and voluntary in western countries and is required every 3-5 years. Basis for the re-certification is the collection of a strictly defined number of credit points in almost all countries. Besides the traditional activities like attendance at lectures and conferences, also e-learning, individual readings, being a trainer and adherence to guidelines are often involved and used in the re-certification process. Conclusion: In most European countries there exists some accreditation system for CME/CPD events. In >50% this is mandatory, mainly in eastern European countries. A recertification system for individual GPs is less frequently in place, but still in more than half of the countries. If there is, it is usually mandatory in eastern and voluntary in western European countries.

general practice; certification

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