Doctors who did not participate in a continuing education programme

One hundred doctors were interviewed regarding their use of a series of educational programmes which had been mailed to them unsolicited. Doctors who used the materials did not differ from those who did not with respect to geographical location, sex and higher qualifications. The forty-five doctors who had used the programmes tended to be younger than those who did not. The commonest reason given for non-participation in the programme was lack of time. Following the interviews at least five doctors, who had not previously done so, used the programmes.