OPTIMIZATION OF CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN FRONTLINE TERRITORIES: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE KHERSON REGION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/m.2414-5998.2026.2.16452Keywords:
continuing professional development, CPD, healthcare, Kherson region, frontline territories, staffing shortage, healthcare professionals, professional education, monitoring, CPD efficiency indexAbstract
The article presents the results of a comprehensive monitoring of the implementation of continuing professional development (CPD) of healthcare professionals in de-occupied and frontline territories of Ukraine, based on the example of Kherson region in 2025. The relevance of the study is determined by the transformation of the certification system for medical and pharmaceutical workers, the requirement for annual accumulation of CPD points, and the specific challenges faced by healthcare institutions operating under wartime conditions, including staff shortages, psychological burden, security risks, and limited access to educational resources.
The aim of the study was to analyses the current state of CPD implementation, identify key barriers, and develop strategies for optimizing professional development in frontline regions.
The study covered 27 municipal non-profit healthcare institutions. The methodology included quantitative and qualitative data analysis, personnel monitoring, structural and functional analysis of CPD formats, financial assessment of reimbursement mechanisms, and the use of the author’s CPD efficiency index.
The study revealed that out of 3654.75 staff positions, only 1612 healthcare professionals were employed, corresponding to a staffing level of 44.1%. The overall CPD efficiency index was 0.77, indicating a sufficient level of compliance with professional development requirements, although significant internal disparities were identified. The results demonstrate the dominance of non-formal education, very low participation in formal and informal learning, and insufficient use of reimbursement mechanisms.
The findings indicate the need for the development of regional educational hubs, simulation-based training, digital support systems, and the integration of training modules in tactical medicine and crisis psychology. The proposed strategies can be used by healthcare authorities to improve workforce policy and enhance the effectiveness of CPD systems in crisis-affected regions.
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