Postgraduate education allowance: a regional analysis of the first year.

A comparison of accredited education sessions attended by general practitioners in the West of Scotland during 1990-91, the first year of the postgraduate education allowance, and during the previous year is presented. During 1990-91 the mean number of half day sessions attended by each practitioner was 14.0. This is an increase of 36% over the number (10.3) attended during the previous year. The mean number of days attended during 1990-91 includes 5.5 devoted to disease management, 4.4 to service management, and 4.1 to health promotion. Eighty five per cent of practitioners attended a full day devoted to disease management, 78% a full day devoted to service management, and 72% to full day devoted to health promotion; 80% a day in two of these three categories, and 57% a day in all three. The average attendance exceeds the requirement of the new contract. The great majority of practitioners in the Region appear to be achieving the spread of attendance over the three categories required by the regulations.