South African Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Continuing Professional Development in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

In 2019 the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) mandated the formal documentation and submission of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). While CPD is essential for pharmacists to improve healthcare quality, data on their knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers is limited, particularly in Gauteng, South Africa. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap through a cross-sectional survey using self-administered electronic questionnaires, yielding a 10.5% response rate. CPD compliance was high at 94.3% for both 2022 and 2023. Knowledge of CPD processes was strong (79.9%), but only 22.0% felt confident in reflective practice. Attitudes were largely positive, with 89.9% reporting sufficient resources, though only 9.1% expressed strong motivation. Key barriers included time constraints (17.8%) and concerns about CPD content quality (28.1%). These findings highlight the need to improve CPD engagement by enhancing content relevance, supporting reflective practice, offering flexible learning formats, and boosting motivation through targeted campaigns. Insights from this study can inform policy, improve CPD systems, and guide future research.