Continuing Medical Education — An Epidemiologic Evaluation

During 1956–65, 57 per cent of the 2090 physicians practicing in Kansas participated in courses of continuing education offered by the State University. Approximately 7 per cent of all physicians took half of all hours of continuing education recorded. Participation was influenced by the type of practice and was related to graduation from the State Medical School, access to circuit centers, status of recent graduate and practice of a specialty. Participation was unrelated to class standing in medical school and was lowest in metropolitan areas. Maternal and perinatal death rates in various areas were unrelated to hours of continuing education in obstetrics and pediatrics taken by local physicians. Similarly, high regional rates for certain operative procedures were not associated with increased use of appropriate postgraduate education.