Preferences and attitudes of physicians in India towards continuing medical education.

Introduction

Physicians in India display an enthusiasm for continuing medical education (CME), however a proper system for facilitation and organisation of CME activities is yet to evolve in the country.

Methods

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 751 physicians from eight medical specialties across India and the data retrieved was analysed at individual physician and collective specialty-specific levels.

Results

The surveyed physicians considered case presentations (73%), live speaker programmes (70%) and round-table meetings/focus group meetings (70%) as the most effective CME activities. They preferred a duration of <2 h for CME activities such as webcasts (89%) and lectures (86%). Most of them considered scientific agenda (78%) and stature of speakers (77%) as the most important determinants of the quality of a CME event. Most physicians wanted topics such as disease guidelines (88%) and new drugs/devices/interventions (86%) for discussion in CME activities. Medical associations (87%) were the most desirable organisations for holding the CME activities and face-to-face modules appealed to majority of the physicians (64%).

Conclusions

This study indicates that Indian physicians prefer live, interactive, short, specialty-specific educational sessions for CME activities, delivered by Indian experts and organised by medical associations at domestic destinations.