Compliance with continuing medical education requirements among health professionals at a tertiary hospital in Viet Nam

Background Continuing medical education (CME) is very important for maintaining professional competence and ensuring patient safety. In Viet Nam, the new Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (2023), effective from January 2024, requires by law that every licensed healthcare professional must obtain at least 120 CME credit points within a 5-year period as a condition for renewal of their professional practice license. This study assessed the level of compliance with continuing medical education (CME) requirements among health professionals at a provincial tertiary hospital in Viet Nam, and to identify factors associated with adequate fulfillment of the mandated credit points. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2025 involving 326 licensed health professionals, including physicians, nurses, technicians, and other health staff at Da Nang Hospital, a provincial tertiary hospital in Viet Nam. Data on demographic characteristics, professional qualifications, workload, and CME participation were collected using a structured questionnaire and institutional records. The outcome was compliance with the Ministry of Health’s regulations on CME credit points. Chi-square tests and quartile analysis were applied to examine factors associated with the compliance. Ethical approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee. Results Overall, 27% of respondents reported an inadequate compliance (less than 120 credit points per 5-year cycle) with the required CME credit points, only 19.9% self-reported full compliance, whereas 53% incomplete or uncertain records of their CME participation. Factors significantly associated with compliance included workload (p = 0.002), seniority (p = 0.041) and career advancement aspirations (p = 0.045). Other characteristics such as gender, age, professional qualification, and hospital position showed no significant association. Beyond individual factors, participants reported that financial support, managerial facilitation, scheduling flexibility, and clear legal regulations were critical influences on their ability to participate in CME. IT-enabled training was of moderate concern from the professionals. Conclusion CME compliance among health professionals at Da Nang Hospital was low. To reduce excessive workload, and open opportunities for career advancement could improve participation in mandatory CME. Mandatory national and institutional regulations are needed to ensure sustainable professional development and to strengthen the quality of health services.