Continuing medical education. What do Minnesota physicians want?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Professional Development

Background:

• Continuing medical education (CME) is essential for maintaining physician licensure and expertise.
• Program developers may not align new CME offerings with physician preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess physician preferences for continuing medical education (CME) program formats.
• To identify factors influencing the selection of CME activities.

Main Methods:

• A survey with 12 multiple-response items was administered.
• The survey collected data on educational objectives, past experiences, and demographics.
• 1,967 Minnesota physicians were surveyed, with 385 returning usable responses (20% return rate).

Main Results:

• Most respondents participated in traditional CME programs in the past two years.
• The majority planned to attend traditional CME programs in the next two years.
• Physicians showed a strong preference for traditional CME formats.

Conclusions:

• Minnesota physicians overwhelmingly favor traditional CME programs over interactive, technology-based options.
• Internet-based CME and other technologies require adjustments to appeal to practicing physicians.