Background: Adoption of mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) for pharmacists in Australia is relatively new. Difficulties have been reported with the introduction of CPD frameworks in other countries. There is limited information on how Australian pharmacists have engaged with the CPD requirements for registration. Aim: To explore Australian pharmacists' understanding and engagement with the CPD requirements for renewal of registration. Method: The Pharmacy Board of Australia's CPD requirements for registration was used to design an online survey to explore the level of understanding and engagement Australian pharmacists have with the CPD framework. Results: 278 pharmacists responded to the survey -66% were female, 30% were male and 4% did not disclose their gender. 63% of respondents noted that it would not be difficult to acquire 40 CPD credits annually. Respondents identified that Group 1 activities were a preferred way of acquiring CPD credits. Majority of pharmacists (91%) believed that they knew the CPD requirements for registration and 77% noted that there had been sufficient guidance provided. Despite this, 26% of participants had never used self-directed learning plans and 38% did not know how to undertake self-directed learning. 76% of participants were under the common misconception that CPD is synonymous with continuing education. Conclusion:The majority of pharmacists believe they understand and can engage in the acquisition of CPD credits for renewal of registration. Some aspects of the CPD framework was not understood, such as how it aims to develop a pharmacist's practice. This aspect of the CPD framework will need to be further developed. J Pharm Pract Res 2013; 43: 213-17.

As medication experts, pharmacists are key members of the patient’s healthcare team. Pharmacists must maintain their competence to practice to remain responsive to the increasingly complex healthcare sector. This paper seeks to determine how competence training for pharmacists may enhance quality in their professional development. Results of two separately administered surveys (2012 and 2013) were compared to examine the reported continued professional development (CPD) practices of Australian pharmacists. Examination of results from both studies enabled a focus on how the competency standards inform CPD practice. In the survey administered in 2012, 91% (n = 253/278) pharmacists reported that they knew their current registration requirements. However, in the survey administered in 2013, only 43% (n = 46/107) reported utilization of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia (NCS) to self-asses their practice as part of their annual re-registration requirements. Fewer, 23% (n = 25/107), used the NCS to plan their CPD. This may be symptomatic of poor familiarity with the NCS, uncertainty around undertaking self-directed learning as part of a structured learning plan and/or misunderstandings around what CPD should include. This is supported by thematic analysis of pharmacists’ social media comments. Initial and ongoing competence training to support meaningful CPD requires urgent attention in Australia. The competence (knowledge, skills and attributes) required to engage in meaningful CPD practice should be introduced and developed prior to entry into practice; other countries may find they are in a similar position.

In the United Kingdom's National Health Service BreastScreen Program, three‐quarters of their screening units have radiographers as one of the two independent screen readers. This has been the case since the early 1990s. Multiple studies confirm the capabilities of radiographers as screen readers and the positive outcomes for the stakeholders. This is not the current practice in BreastScreen Australia, despite the chronic and increasing shortage of radiologists in general and in particular radiologists willing to be accredited in BreastScreen. This discrepancy in practice led to a qualitative investigation of the perceptions of radiographers, radiologists and directors involved in BreastScreen Australia and eligible users of the service, regarding the role of radiographers as screen readers. The perceptions of these Australian stakeholders were collected via interviews and personal correspondence. Thematic analysis was conducted on the data and then triangulated with a thematic analysis of the literature. This research demonstrated positive perceptions towards radiographers as screen readers for BreastScreen Australia by the Australian stakeholders. This was supported and reinforced by the literature review, in particular, the UK experience of radiographers as screen readers. Therefore, given the advantages of radiographer role extension and increased career opportunities, in conjunction with the increasing workload of the Australian radiologist, it would seem prudent to commence planning for the introduction of non‐radiology screen readers in to BreastScreen Australia. This paper provides an initial basis from which to commence discussion and planning by all the Stakeholders.

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