Mandatory continuing professional education is accepted across many professions as a re-credentialing mechanism to maintain professional competency. Self-directed learning is a widely recognized type of learning to meet mandatory continuing professional education requirements. The nature and characteristics of self-directed learning has been transformed with the growth in digital and mobile technologies, however there is minimal understanding of the role of these technologies in the self-directed learning habits of adult learners. This study sought to explore the perspectives of adult learners around the effect of digital and mobile technologies on continuing professional education activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 55 adult learners from four professional groups (9 physicians; 20 nurses; 4 pharmacists; 22 social workers). Key thematic categories included perceptions of self-directed learning, self-directed learning resources, key triggers, and barriers to undertaking self-directed learning. Digital and mobile technologies emerged as important resources supporting the self-directed learning of health and human services professionals. Increasing usage and dependency on these technologies has important implications for organizational and workplace policies that can support effective self-directed learning processes in a digital age. A conceptual model is introduced to characterize the key factors defining the self-directed learning patterns and practices of adult learners in a digital age.

中文翻译：

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成人学习者对继续专业教育中自主学习和数字技术使用的看法：数字时代的更新

强制性继续专业教育已被许多职业接受，作为维持职业能力的一种重新认证机制。自主学习是一种广泛认可的学习类型，可以满足强制性继续专业教育的要求。随着数字和移动技术的发展，自主学习的性质和特征已经发生了变化，但是，对这些技术在成人学习者的自主学习习惯中的作用的了解却很少。这项研究试图探讨成人学习者关于数字和移动技术对继续职业教育活动的影响的观点。对来自四个专业组的55位成人学习者（9位医生； 20位护士； 4位药剂师； 22位社会工作者）进行了半结构化访谈。关键主题类别包括对自我学习的理解，自我学习的资源，主要诱因和进行自我学习的障碍。数字和移动技术已成为支持卫生和公共服务专业人士自主学习的重要资源。越来越多的使用和对这些技术的依赖性对可以支持数字时代有效的自我导向学习过程的组织和工作场所政策具有重要意义。引入概念模型来表征定义数字时代成人学习者的自主学习模式和实践的关键因素。数字和移动技术已成为支持卫生和公共服务专业人士自主学习的重要资源。越来越多的使用和对这些技术的依赖性对可以支持数字时代有效的自我导向学习过程的组织和工作场所政策具有重要意义。引入概念模型来表征定义数字时代成人学习者的自主学习模式和实践的关键因素。数字和移动技术已成为支持卫生和公共服务专业人士自主学习的重要资源。越来越多的使用和对这些技术的依赖性对可以支持数字时代有效的自我导向学习过程的组织和工作场所政策具有重要意义。引入概念模型来表征定义数字时代成人学习者的自主学习模式和实践的关键因素。