CURRENT SITUATION OF CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS IN AL-MADINAH AL-MUNAWARAH PROVINCE, SAUDI ARABIA

OBJECTIVE: In the health care system, continuing medical education (CME) is concerned with the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of health care provided by physicians. The objectives of this study are: to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of Primary Health Care (PHC) physicians of CME, and to analyze the utilization of Continuing Medical Education (CME) program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with an analytic component. A two-stage stratified random sampling was done on 189 PHC physicians from 76 PHC centers in the Al Madina, Al Munawarah City. One Hundred Fifteen physicians actually took part in the study. RESULTS: Only 3.5% of the physicians were Saudi, 2% had PHC postgraduate qualification in Primary Health Care and 75% had had basic training during their practice. The study showed that: (1) PHC physicians who worked in a group evaluated Medical Education Center (MEC) better than those who worked alone (p =0.0052). (2)Those who were aware of the presence of the MEC gave MEC contribution a better grade in evaluation than those who were not (p=0.0001). (3) PHC physicians who had more experience in medical practice evaluated CME achievement with a better grade than those who had less experience (p = 0.0173). (4) PHC physicians working in groups evaluated CME achievement with a better grade (p = 0.0330). (5) Those who were attached to the hospitals evaluated CME achievement with a better grade (p = 0.0392). (6) Those who attended activities outside PHC centers evaluated CME achievements better than those who did not (p = 0.0202). CONCLUSION: From the results it was concluded that: (1) There are many PHC physicians who were unaware of CME activities in their area of work and therefore tend to be unhappy with MEC contribution. (2) PHC physicians were not satisfied with MEC's contribution and with their CME's achievements. (3) PHC physicians felt the need for utilizable CME. (4) PHC physicians were not fully aware of the use of the internet, distance learning, and emails in CME.