Continuing medical education needs for local general practitioners

A survey was conducted of the expressed continuing medical education needs of a group of 64 suburban general practitioners attached to a South Australian Hospital. The top five stated urgent and necessary training needs were acute and emergency disease management, diabetes management, terminal care, dermatology and medicine. The form of CME most preferred was patient/clinical practice and the greatest barriers to CME were stated as lack of time and loss of income. Practitioners with less than 10 years experience significantly chose training in ear, nose and throat (p < 0.01), rheumatology (p < 0.01) (Fisher's exact test, two-sided), compared with more experienced practitioners. Those in group practice significantly chose training in orthopaedics (p < 0.01, Fisher's exact test, two-sided) and the management of change (p = 0.037, Fisher's exact test, one-sided) more than solo practitioners while female practitioners significantly expressed the need for ante natal care training (Chi square = 8.85; df = 1; p < 0.01).