title: Rural perceptions of continuing professional education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes rural health care professionals' perceptions about professional isolation and the availability, accessibility, and relevance of continuing education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Registered nurses (n = 165) and physicians (n = 59) providing health care services in 26 rural hospitals in two Midwestern states participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rural health care providers experience barriers to accessing relevant continuing education. Although physicians reported higher levels of professional isolation than their nurse counterparts, professional isolation was identified as a concern by both provider groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To ensure an adequate supply of knowledgeable and skillful rural health care professionals, continuing education specific to the delivery of care in rural settings is necessary. Once developed, the continuing education must be delivered in a manner that is acceptable and accessible to isolated rural providers.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Nursing, 430 School of Nursing Building, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jukkala
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Henly
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lindeke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D000078329:Workforce