Investigation of Priorities and NeedAnalyses of Instructional Programs for G.P. subjected to Continuous Retraining Courses in Ahvaz

Continuing education programs are one of the most widespread methods to update the knowledge of the physicians. In addition, the Center for continuing education should have an appropriate mechanism for needs assessment of its programs. According to general practitioners, assessment and prioritization of training needs are to optimize programs, respond to their educational needs and improve the quality of  servises that increases the efficiency and effectiveness of continuing education. Hence, this cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 focused on two main concepts: the identification and prioritization of the educational needs of general practitioners (G.P.). The statistical sample of this study was general practitioners working in different medical parts of Ahvaz city, who were questioned based on a list provided by Administration Department of the Treatment Vice-Chancellery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale containing 19 questions. The questionnaire’ validity and reliability were confirmed by the content validity, and also by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.85), respectively. According to the analysis of the data, out of the 19 proposed programs, the highest rate of interest was related to the training program of skin diseases, whereas the lowest rate of interest was related to occupational medicine program. In addition, out of ten priorities of proposed programs, the highest and lowest priority were corresponded precisely to the training course for emergency of internal diseases and forensics, respectively.  The subjects claimed that their desire and interest to proposed programs was different from the mentioned priorities, and indicated interest was apart from the need and priority in the acquisition of retraining courses.