[National survey in France about continuing medical education among anaesthesiologists].
METHODS
The aim of this study was to assess how French anaesthesiologists perform continuing medical education (CME).


METHODS
A 73 items survey was mailed to 1,000 anaesthesiologists (11% of anaesthesiologists population) of geographic, gender and institution representative of national anaesthesiologist demography. A second mail was sent to non-responders, 6 weeks later.


RESULTS
The answer rate was 40.8% and the sample of responders appeared to match the French anaesthesiologist population. Seventy-two percent of surveyed anaesthesiologists were affiliated to the French society of anaesthesia-intensive care and 24% to other medical societies. Attendance to French congresses was 81% and miscellaneous congresses were equally appreciated in terms of quality. Only 17% of surveyed anaesthesiologists attended international congresses. Multi-thematic congresses were preferred by 67%. The annual time devoted to congresses was 6 days (median) with additional 4 days (median) reserved for practical courses. French medical journals and international journals had a reading rate of 89 and 37%, respectively. For 61% of responders CME was funded by institutional grants. Internet CME use was found in 73% of anaesthesiologists. Time and money were the two most frequent reasons invoked for CME restriction.


CONCLUSIONS
CME is a broadly shared activity, which still remains focussed on national resources.
Kua
V
V
Département d'anesthésie, CHU d'Angers, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 9, France.
Belii
A
A
Pontone
S
S
Beydon
L
L
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003625:Data Collection; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D020407:Internet; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical