Enablers and Barriers of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Participation among Nurses and Midwives

Abstract

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is crucial in healthcare professions that facilitate and
embrace life-long learning, ensuring knowledge and skills to be constantly progressive and responsive to
dynamic health care demand. This study investigate the enablers and barriers of Continuing Professional
Development participations among nurses and midwives in Brunei Darussalam. A cross-sectional study
using self-administered online survey through Qualtrics software were conducted on all eligible nurses and
midwives (N=604) working at all public hospitals and Health Centers in Brunei Darussalam. Availability
of CPD sessions with attractive topics (90.6%); support from the nurse/midwife managers (87.9%) and ease
of CPD registration (83.9%) was highly identified as enablers. Female and younger participants reported
significantly higher support to undertake CPD. Barriers to CPD participation included last minutes changes
to work schedules (89.4%); understaffing (83.1%); role as carer at home (78%); shift work (74.8%) and CPD
affect time outside work (70%). The study results can be used for developing strategies and framework to
improve CPD participation. Specific CPD hours was required for maintenance of registration as nurse, hence
future study may consider the relationship of CPD and competency skills.