JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for physicians to maintain and enhance their knowledge, competence, skills, and performance and web-based CPD plays an essential role. However, validated theory-informed measures of their impact are lacking.

Objective:

We aimed to evaluate the use of the CPD-REACTION questionnaire, which measures the impact of a CPD activity on health professionals’ intention to change a clinical behavior.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review informed by Cochrane review methodology. We searched 8 databases from 01/01/2014 to 04/20/2021. Grey literature was identified using Google Scholar and Research Gate. Eligibility criteria included: all healthcare professionals, any type of study design, and participants’ completion of the CPD-REACTION questionnaire either before, after, or both before and after a CPD activity. Study selection, data extraction, and study quality evaluation were independently performed by 2 reviewers. We extracted data on characteristics of studies, the CPD activity (e.g. targeted clinical behavior, format), and CPD-REACTION use. We used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) to evaluate the methodological quality of studies. Data extracted were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Student’s t-test for the bivariate analysis. Results are presented as a narrative synthesis reported according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Results:

Sixty-five citations were eligible and referred to 52 primary studies. The number of primary studies reporting the use of CPD-REACTION has increased continuously since 2014 from 1 to 16 publications per year (2021). It is available in English, French, Spanish, and Dutch. Most studies were located in Canada (30/52). Forty different clinical behaviors were identified. The most common format of CPD activities was e-learning (n=34/52). The original version of CPD-REACTION was used in 31/52 studies, and an adapted version in 18/52 studies. Sixteen studies (30.8%) measured both pre- and post-intervention scores. In twenty-two studies, the CPD providers were university-based. Most studies targeted interprofessional groups of health professionals (31/52).

Conclusions:

The use of CPD-REACTION has been increasing rapidly and across a wide range of clinical behaviors and formats, including web-based. Further research should investigate the most effective way to adapt the CPD-REACTION questionnaire to a variety of clinical behaviors and contexts.