Detecting areas of deficiency in factual knowledge of general practitioners.

Approximately one-third of all general practitioners returned a multiple choice questionnaire covering general medical knowledge. The overall average score was 63.6 percent and a definite fall off was observed with advancing age. It was also found that those who worked in group practices did rather better than those in single-handed practice--similarly full-time general practitioners performed rather better than part-time general practitioners. The proportion of respondents who were members of a recognised college of general practitioners approximates to the proportion of all general practitioners in New Zealand who are college members. The average mark for college members was exactly the same as the average mark for the group as a whole, suggesting that college members represent a typical cross section of the general practitioner community. This survey could be a useful baseline for further studies in the future should continuing education become obligatory for maintaining college membership.