Barriers to Continuing Medical Education Among Doctors in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Pakistan: a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

  • Amna Ahmed Pakistan Military Academy Hospital, Kakul, Abbottabad Pakistan
  • Mehwish Abbas Department of Dental, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Saba Khurshid National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75iSUPPL-6.13492

Keywords:

Continuing, Education, Medical, Physicians

Abstract

Objective: To assess the barriers to Continuing Medical Education (CME) among doctors in tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Public and private tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from Feb 2025 to Apr 2025.

Methodology: This study was conducted on doctors working in tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. A total of 417 responses were collected through online and paper-based surveys.

Results: Out of 417 respondents, only 43.2% had attended a CME activity in the past year. The primary barriers identified were lack of time due to heavy workload (63%), high cost of participation (34%), and limited local access to CME programs (26%). To address time constraints, the most preferred solution was integrating CME into work hours (42.9%), followed by shorter or flexible sessions (29%) and online programs (25.4%). For financial barriers, employer-sponsored programs (33.3%), lower registration fees (27.6%), and free online options (27.3%) were the top recommendations. Workshops and hands-on training were the most favored CME formats (59%), and opinions on mandatory CME for license renewal were nearly evenly split.

Conclusion: CME participation among doctors is hindered primarily by time and financial constraints. Institutional support through work-integrated CME, financial assistance, and flexible delivery formats can significantly enhance participation. Policy-level interventions are needed to ensure equitable access and sustained professional development.

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Published

30-09-2025

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How to Cite

1.
Ahmed A, Abbas M, Khurshid S. Barriers to Continuing Medical Education Among Doctors in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Pakistan: a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. Pak Armed Forces Med J [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 30 [cited 2025 Oct. 6];75(SUPPL-6):S1027-S1032. Available from: https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/13492