Predictors to Sustainability of Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme among Nurses in Southwest Nigeria

Introduction: The Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) is an important programme for improving the knowledge, skills and competence of nurses, which ultimately translates into the provision of quality patient care. However, despite its importance, the sustainability of the MCPDP in Nigeria is a concern. Aims and Objectives: The study examined the relevance of MCPDP, policy and strategies for sustainability of MCPDP in Southwest Nigeria. The predictors to sustainability were also determined. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional design with 230 nurses participating in the monthly programme. The study was conducted at the designated nurses' home in Ibadan, Oyo State. A self-structured questionnaire with a total of 31 items was used for data collection. The data collected were entered into SPSS version 25. Data were presented using frequencies and percentages. Logistic regression was used to test the association between the variables. Results: Respondents were between 50 and 59 years old. The majority (99.6%) of respondents agreed that the MCPDP increases intellectual and professional competence. Respondents believe that MCPDP provides quality, competent training and resources (99.5%). Respondents (94.8%) agreed that the MCPDP helps me keep abreast of new developments in my specialty. About 97.4% of the respondents agreed that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria should keep the MCPDP consistent, viable and continuous. Majority (99.6%) of the respondents want the nursing and midwifery policy and strategy to be improved to promote the MCPDP. Also, 93.5% agreed that the policy and strategy should be improved at least every two years. The socio-demographic variables such as religion is a predictor (p=.043) showing that there is a need to improve the policy and strategy every two years to improve the MCPDP. Conclusion: The results showed that the majority of respondents perceived the MCPDP as beneficial for enhancing their intellectual, professional and clinical competence. The socio-demographic analysis of the study provided insights into the diverse characteristics of nurses attending the MCPDP, which may inform strategies to improve accessibility and inclusivity.