CME and the role of the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London. Results of a survey of consultant and trainee physicians.
OBJECTIVE
To assess (a) the views of Members and Fellows of the College on the role of reading general medical journals in continuing medical education (CME); (b) the place of the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London (JRCPL) in relation to seven other general medical journals; (c) the possible need for change in the content of the JRCPL and the demand for a systematic series of articles designed specifically for CME; (d) the extent of home ownership and use of computers and of readers' readiness for interactive teaching and electronic books and journals.


METHODS
Distribution of a questionnaire to all Fellows and Collegiate members of the College, mailed with the JRCPL in May 1995.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 2,600 (26.4% home recipients and 8.4% overseas recipients). Journal reading was rated the most important form of CME. All eight journals listed play a part in CME, the three weekly journals playing the most prominent role. There was strong support for the introduction of a series of articles covering topics systematically as part of CME. Seventy-six per cent of respondents own a home computer and 40% of these have either a CD-ROM drive or full multimedia facilities. Most use their computers mainly as word-processors and few have access to the Internet or E-mail.
Kerr
D
D
Publications Department, Royal College of Physicians, London.
Toghill
P
P
Klär
B
B
D003625:Data Collection; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D008838:Microcomputers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011932:Reading; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom