Research question: To study the habits of ambulatory care physicians in CME, and to investigate the motivating and negative experiences with different types of CME in Germany.
Methods/setting: Survey with a five-page questionnaire posted to all ambulatory care physicians in the German states of Saxony-Anhalt (n = 3139) and Bremen (n = 1131).
Results: Response rates were 61.8% in Saxony-Anhalt and 41.7% in Bremen. 2412 questionnaires were available in this largest survey on that topic in Germany. Mean time devoted to CME was 4.6 hours per week, the respondents participated on the average at 14 CME-events per year. A content analysis was made to investigate positive and negative experiences. Practice orientation and personal exchange in small groups was appraised; criticism was mostly directed towards the efficiency and effectiveness of CME at large events (e.g. congresses).
Conclusions and suggestions: Regionally performed surveys are able to guide the planning of CME about habits, wants and needs of the target group and may increase the attendance as well as the involvement. Motivating as well as critical experiences of the participants should be regarded more rigorously in the planning. Consideration can increase the quality and the impact of CME. This applies the more, when certification of the quality of CME and of individual CME-efforts are planned. This article will be followed in one of the next issues by a second from the same survey focusing on the attitudes of ambulatory care physicians towards quality improvement and their intentions to join quality circles (peer review groups).