title: Continuing education in the health sciences in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Employers have long been concerned about the professional qualifications of their employees. Decision makers in the health sciences are no exception, particularly now that they are seriously considering the improvement and full accreditation of continuing education as part of the planned European convergence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and nursing professionals were questioned about their views on continuing education, suitable content of possible programs, and implementation, in comparison to what four major Spanish nursing and medical journals propose as adequate continuing education activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses from both types of professionals indicated that they desire training more related to practice and to social communication issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professionals feel that they need to stay current in their fields and that continuing education programs should be systematized in consonance with official accreditation guidelines and objectives.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camaño-Puig
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piqué-Angordans
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015706:Bibliometrics; D003142:Communication; D003200:Computer User Training; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005062:European Union; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D019303:Multilingualism; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011361:Professional Competence; D015980:Public Health Practice; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires