[Occupational medicine in public health service--evaluation results of an continuing education symposium]

The demand for a quality controlled and quality proved continuing medical education (CME) has grown in the past. Especially the German "Bundesärztekammer" (society of physicians of Germany) has developed new models for CME and it's evaluation. This paper presents the background, methodology and results of two evaluations of CME for occupational physicians in health care institutions. The two symposia in 1994 and 1995 were evaluated using the same questionnaire. The comparative analysis of the results indicates the feasibility of the instrument and the validity of the results when used together with the results on an open discussion at the end of the symposium. It also demonstrates the value of the evaluation for future planning of comparable programs.