Analysis of the readiness of medical professionals from Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia on the need for continuing online training on matters relating to drug policy

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine the opinion of the medical community on the need for further training on matters relating to drug policy (as a dynamic and rapidly changing area of healthcare policy bearing on the work of a number of healthcare specialists) and the attitudes to web-based forms of further training. The study was conducted among healthcare professionals (healthcare professionals means graduates in medicine and/or pharmacy – physicians, dentists, pharmacists and healthcare professionals and managers etc. who practice their occupation applying the set of regulatory standards governing drug policy) from three Balkan countries – Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia – who have completed a dedicated survey. Participation in the survey was voluntary and the polling was conducted on the basis of the ‘snowballing’ technique for survey dissemination and recruitment of respondents. The statistical processing of collected data relied on a correlational descriptive and regression analysis. The results reveal that respondents are aware of the need and are willing to pursue possibilities for further training on matters relating to drug policy. The correlational analysis has revealed interesting further data. A statistically significant negative correlation has been established between knowledge assessment and the method of updating and upgrading knowledge on matters relating to drug policy. The data suggests that according to the respondents self-learning and attending courses led by trainers who are subject-matter experts increases the evaluation of knowledge in the area of drug policy (rho = 0.-631, р = 0.002). Furthermore, the greater frequency of additional training events to improve current levels of knowledge is also a factor that increases self-assessment of being up to date on the latest developments in this area (rho = 0.577, р = 0.006). There is a need for further training in the area of drug policy and the preferred form of this type of training are the online and physical training events by guest trainers conducted by medical schools. In order to ensure that training conforms to a high-quality standard, a test should be taken at the end and a certificate attesting to the training should be issued as a quality assurance guarantee.

Keywords: Postgraduate training/drug policy, medical specialists.

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