[Mandatory continued medical education and continuing education accreditation--contributions to quality assurance in medicine?].
Continuing education is seen as one of the most important instruments of medical quality assurance. Therefore, the duty of continuing medical education was put down in the professional rules of German physicians in 1976. It has been demonstrated many times that most of the physicians keep this professional duty. However, it has been repeatedly discussed whether the physician's motivation for continuing education is sufficient or whether it is necessary to introduce a compulsory proof of CME. It is analyzed in this article how the efficacy of compulsory and compulsory proof of is verified scientifically. Further, different tools are introduced which may help to admit a greater obligation. The discussion is based on data from Medline search using the keywords 'Continuing medical education' and 'Quality assurance' for the years 1984-1993. Studies reporting experiences with compulsory CME and considerations of standards were chosen. Further, presentations of the 'European Academy of Medical Education' (EAMF), Cologne March 4-March 5, 1994 as well as the publications of the German Medical Association regarding quality assurance of CME from the years 1993 to 1995 have been taken into account.
Ollenschläger
G
G
Bundesärztekammer, Dezernat Fortbildung, Köln.
Engelbrecht
J
J
D000068:Accreditation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*