Education format and resource preferences among registrants of a pediatric-focused CME website

BACKGROUND: Despite dramatic increase in Internet-based CME activities, little is known about physician Internet CME preferences. AIMS: To identify the education format and resource preferences among registrants of a pediatric-focused CME website. METHODS: Preferences of physician registrants at PedsEducation.org between July 2000-November 2007 (n = 1388) were assessed via survey. A secondary analysis of respondent demographics vs. reported preferences was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 345 physicians participated (25% response rate). The majority (73%, n = 252) identified free CME as a highly important feature of an Internet CME resource; monthly case series was identified as the least important. Seventy-five percent of respondents (n = 260) identified practice guideline updates as a highly useful practice resource; practice feedback was identified as the least useful. Respondents with < or =10 years practice experience were more likely to identify case-based CME as highly useful to their daily practice (p < 0.001); respondents who spend > or = 90% working time on patient care were more likely to identify Internet CME as a highly useful CME format (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Internet CME preferences of PedsEducation.org registrants differ from those typically associated with knowledge gains and behavior changes. Demographic characteristics may influence these preferences.