Continuing education for general practitioners.

This research was conducted to investigate patterns of attendance at continuing education meetings and examine which factors encourage or inhibit attendance by comparing the characteristics of general practitioners who attend regularly with those who attend occasionally or not at all. The findings provide course organizers with a detailed insight into the attitudes and perceptions of frequent and infrequent attenders. The research identifies a need for greater personal contact in changing attitudes to continuing education and bringing about greater involvement. It is concluded that the role of general practitioner tutor should be enhanced to provide more direct contact and influence with small groups of doctors.