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Volume 15 (1)
Volume 15, Issue 1, March 1995
J Contin Educ Health Prof 1995; 15(1):8-22
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Rethinking Continuing Medical Education
H. B. Slotnick, PhD, PhD
R. R. Raszkowski, MD, PhD
David F. Lichtenauer, MA
A b s t r a c t
We believe that the traditional view of Continuing Medical Education (CME)
as a major source of new information and skills for physicians is inadequate because
it fails to take into account the range of costs and benefits associated with CME. These
costs and benefits were identified through a follow-up to a national study of how physicians
decide which CME activities to attend. The goal of the follow-up was to determine
the meanings doctors attach to factors they use in selecting CME activities. Results
indicated that costs associated with CME attendance are financial, professional, and
personal. Benefits relate to recredentialing, opportunities to gain insights/wisdom (e.g.,
through discussing patient problems with colleagues), and opportunities to satisfy psychological
needs (i.e., security, affiliation, and self-esteem). We review the implications
of viewing CME in this way, including the role of CME in the evolving health care
policy reform.
Keywords: Benefits and costs of participation; continuing medical education
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