ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Needs assessment is an important part of planning effective continuing medical education (CME) programs. The Kaiser Permanente National CME Committee (KPNCME) was formed in 1998 to accredit and provide oversight and assistance to Kaiser Permanente (KP) national CME programs and to provide expertise on an as-needed basis to regional and local KP CME efforts. OBJECTIVE: To develop, distribute, and analyze a CME needs assessment survey of Permanente physicians. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey completed by Permanente physicians on paper or online during September 2000 through December 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physician motivations for, preferences about, and perceived barriers to participating in CME programs. RESULTS: Of 10,959 surveys distributed to KP physicians, 1976 (19.1%) were completed. Survey responses showed that Permanente physicians choose topics on the basis of self-perceived need and tend not to be influenced by objective performance data. Survey respondents preferred evidence-based, clinical CME topics that address a major aspect of their practice and that potentially provide an opportunity to learn new skills. Respondents preferred CME programs delivered in group format, although a subset of respondents found the computerized format valuable. In choosing a CME program, respondents were influenced more by program location than by time of day at which programs were scheduled. CONCLUSIONS: At all levels-from individual to national-CME planning should incorporate objectively determined quality, program utilization, and other objective data as well as more subjectively determined need as perceived by individual physicians and CME experts. Live programs delivered onsite should use interactive format. The need for clinicians to develop cultural competence and effective communication skills should be framed in clinical context. Locations of KP national CME programs should periodically be rotated to make these programs more accessible to prospective attendees from all KP Regions.
