Abstract

Assessing motivational factors for participation in continuing education in pharmacy

Author(s): Anita Young, Helen Meldrum

Extensive research indicates that adults learn best when they are motivated, self-directed, and can choose what and how they learn. This study focuses on continuing pharmacy education and how pharmacists can be motivated to participate in post-graduate education programs because they want to, not simply because they have to. The research examined to what extent specific intrinsic and extrinsic motivators affect pharmacists’ perceptions about participation in self-directed learning activities. The data also focuses on what specific obstacles prevent them from participating in such activities. The project used a descriptive research design to survey pharmacists and draw conclusions about the wide variety of motivations that might inspire or inhibit action to undertake self-directed learning in continuing pharmacy education programs.