A modified Delphi study to establish consensus on continuing education requirements for pharmacists’ relicensing in Saudi Arabia

D. Almaghaslah, A. Alasayari

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. damoazle@kku.edu.sa

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• Medical Education
• Methodology

OBJECTIVE: Continuing education is a key priority for pharmacy workforce development and the achievement of the nation’s health goals. The current study was conducted to evaluate continuing medical education requirements for pharmacists’ re-registration in Saudi Arabia. It also aimed at establishing a continuous professional development (CPD) system that fills the gaps in the current continuing medical education (CME) system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A modified Delphi method was utilized. Data extraction and statement development (review of key documents) was initially conducted by benchmarking the current CME requirements for pharmacists’ re-registration in Saudi Arabia to continuing professional development models from 3 countries: the UK, Ireland, and Australia. This stage identified the gaps in the current model and was used in developing the data collection tool (11 statements). A 3-round Delphi, with 15 expert panel members, was used to reach consensus and to establish a suggested guideline document for a national CPD model for pharmacists’ re-registration in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS: A CPD model for pharmacists’ re-registration was developed. Panel members reached consensus on the need to shift the current CME system to a CPD model and individualize CPD plans according to the pharmacists’ identified knowledge gaps and areas of practice. They agreed on the incorporation of unplanned activities and non-accredited CPD activities into the new model if they improve pharmacists’ practice. They also noted that the current biennial re-registration is appropriate, considering pharmacists’ busy work schedules.

CONCLUSIONS: This study used the modified Delphi technique to develop a suggested CPD model for pharmacists’ re-registration in Saudi Arabia. Expert panel members reached consensus on shifting from a CME model to a CPD model, increasing CPD credits to 40 per annum and incorporating unplanned CPD activities, while keeping re-registration to every two years.

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