American Gastroenterological Association: results of a membership poll

The Patient Care Committee of the American Gastroenterological Association determined that no data existed on the views or demographics of our rapidly growing membership. A 48-item questionnaire was developed and administered during 1982-1983. A random sample (232 of 2751 active members) was queried; 85% (196) replied and all returns were correctly completed. Respondents rate the American Gastroenterological Association as "somewhat responsive" to practitioners' needs but closer to "extremely responsive" to the needs of academic physicians. Full-time medical school faculty average 33% of their time in direct (digestive disease related) patient care, with 15% spent on endoscopy; non-faculty members spend 56% of their time on such care and 22% on endoscopy. Only 2% of the 22% of members who do some "bench research" are less than 35 yr old compared with 7% of the general membership. Most (97.9%) members have attended a Digestive Disease Week in the last 5 yr; they averaged 3.9 meetings and 2.5 courses. Members rank both Digestive Disease Week and GASTROENTEROLOGY a little toward the "research side" of a perfect balance.