Comparison of the perceived CME needs of semirural and urban physicians

The CME needs of 73 physicians practicing in semirural towns are compared with those of 60 physicians practicing in a large city. Semirural physicians are less satisfied with their own CME than the urban group. Physicians practicing in small towns are particularly interested in emergency medicine, trauma surgery, intensive care, obstetrics, and otolaryngology. Urban physicians emphasize the need to be up-to-date in social and family problems, mental disorders, drug dependence and alcoholism, clinical allergy, cardiology, endocrinology, and occupational therapy. The study suggests that there should be more CME opportunities for semirural physicians. CME initiatives should emphasize special areas of interest depending, on whether the target audiences are semirural physicians or physicians practicing in large urban settings.