The Viewpoints of General Physicians toward Continuing Medical Education Programs' Implementation Status and the Participants' Motivation

Introduction: Acquainting the viewpoints of Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs’ participants concerning different aspects of these programs is of special importance. The aim of this study was to determine the status of CME programs' implementation from general physicians’ viewpoints and their motivation for participating in these programs. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 150 general physicians were randomly selected among CME programs' participants in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences from October 2004 to March 2005. The data gathering tool was a self-administered questionnaire including a list of items regarding CME programs' features, their optimum status and the participants' motivations. The analysis and comparisons were made using chi2 by SPSS software. Results: The main motivation for participating in CME programs was achieving points in 60% of respondents and in 28% of them, was restoring the previous knowledge and acquiring new information. Fifty six and a half percent believed that it was better to hold the programs in successive days, and the mean of the number of favorable days was 2.3±0.93 days. Sixty four percent identified the last three days of the week as the most suitable days for holding these programs. Eighty nine percent of them, described general physicians' needs assessment as a suitable means for selecting the topics, and 58% stated a combination of correspondence and attendance methods as an appropriate educational method. The programs' levels were evaluated poor by 14%, average by 66%, and satisfactory by 20%. Internal medicine was identified as the most important need by 60% and 56.5% requested Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation workshop. Conclusion: Most general physicians participated in CME programs with non-scientific motivations and the programs' level in some cases was not according to their expectations. Planning CME programs based on general physicians’ needs and situations may lead to enhancing their motivations and promoting these programs.