Continuing education: a survey among general practitioners

A survey of perceptions of continuing education--content, methods and current provision--was undertaken among all established general practitioners in one health region of the UK using a postal questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with a small random sample of respondents and with a larger sample of non-respondents to the questionnaire. Data from the questionnaire and interviews demonstrated overall a wide diversity of content and methods of continuing education perceived as appropriate, with duration of experience and involvement in undergraduate teaching or postgraduate training as significant determinants. The findings are used to review, critically, current provision of continuing education for general practice and to suggest ways in which future provision might reflect the range of educational need perceived by doctors.