1. What is your specialty or subspecialty?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Radiology		16.6%	85
Orthopedics		9.9%	51
Anesthesiology		17.7%	91
Cardiothoracic surgery		5.7%	29
Vascular surgery		2.3%	12
General surgery		10.5%	54
Dermatology		9.6%	49
Plastic surgery		8.4%	43
Ear, Nose & Throat		3.1%	16
Neurosurgery		4.3%	22
Psychiatry		6.8%	35
Urology		6.0%	31
Hand Surgery		1.6%	8
Other (please specify)			97
	answered question		513
	skipped question		86

2. How many years have you been in practice?
		Response Percent	Response Count
1-5		4.2%	25
6-10		9.2%	54
11-15		12.4%	73
16-20		14.4%	85
21-25		16.9%	100
26-30		14.1%	83
More than 30		28.8%	170
	answered question		590
	skipped question		9

3. Does the state you practice in require you to get Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for license renewal?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		90.3%	530
No		9.7%	57
Other (please specify)			9
	answered question		587
	skipped question		12

4. Does the hospital you have priveliges in require you to get CME credits for recredentialing?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		75.7%	436
No		24.5%	141
Other (please specify)			19
	answered question		576
	skipped question		23

5. Why do you get CME?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Hospital and/or state requirement		74.7%	444
Interaction with other physicians		36.5%	217
Helps me with patient care		73.1%	434
	answered question		594
	skipped question		5

6. What is your preferred way to get CME credits?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Audio CD or tape		11.1%	66
CD-ROM with text, graphics and video		19.9%	118
Conferences and meetings		84.1%	498
Email with links to a web site		24.2%	143
Faxed material		0.8%	5
Print material sent to you		20.3%	120
Medical journals		43.2%	256
MP3 content		1.2%	7
PDA content		0.8%	5
Podcasts		3.0%	18
TV/cable programs		2.4%	14
Webcasts or web sites		17.6%	104
Other (please specify)			18
	answered question		592
	skipped question		7

7. Approximately how many invitations do you receive per month for CME activities of any type?
		Response Percent	Response Count
1-4		31.5%	188
5-10		40.1%	239
11-15		16.3%	97
16-20		6.5%	39
21-25		2.0%	12
More than 25		4.0%	24
	answered question		596
	skipped question		3

8. In the past 5 years, are you doing more, less or the same amount of travel to attend accredited CME events?
		Response Percent	Response Count
More		12.4%	73
Less		42.9%	253
The same		44.7%	264
	answered question		590
	skipped question		9

9. Many physicians report that they travel less for accredited CME events. Why do you think that is?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Travel costs and lodging are too expensive		65.0%	374
Travel, especially by plane, has become increasingly burdensome		45.2%	260
Physicians lose money from their medical practice when they are away		50.3%	289
Physicians can get equivalent quality CME, online, at their convenience		51.1%	294
Other (please specify)			36
	answered question		575
	skipped question		24

10. When you attend CME conferences or meetings, which do you prefer?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Local meeting(s) in my city or town requiring little travel.		39.1%	229
Annual specialty society meeting -- I travel wherever it's held		59.7%	350
Regional specialty society meeting		24.9%	146
CME meeting(s) combined with leisure activities such as golf, cruises, sightseeing, etc		29.2%	171
Hospital grand rounds and other hospital meetings		25.6%	150
Small dinner meetings sponsored by pharmaceutical or medical device companies		16.4%	96
Other (please specify)			17
	answered question		586
	skipped question		13

11. Do you think it's appropriate for CME providers to offer accredited CME activities in combination with vacations or cruises?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		70.8%	405
No		29.4%	168
Other (please specify)			24
	answered question		572
	skipped question		27

12. If accredited CME credits are obtained during vacations, should a portion of the vacation costs be allowed as a business expense?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		83.1%	486
No		16.9%	99
Other (please specify)			14
	answered question		585
	skipped question		14

13. What is your preferred method for receiving an invitation to an accredited CME meeting or conference?
		Response Percent	Response Count
US Mail or equivalent		66.9%	397
Fax		6.4%	38
Email with links to conference web site		65.1%	386
Phone call		1.9%	11
Medical company sales rep		10.3%	61
PDA		0.7%	4
	answered question		593
	skipped question		6

14. Approximately what percentage of your accredited CME do you get from Webcasts or information on web sites?
		Response Percent	Response Count
0%		27.1%	160
1-10%		42.5%	251
11-25%		14.6%	86
26-50%		7.3%	43
51-75%		6.4%	38
76-100%		2.2%	13
Other (please specify)			2
	answered question		591
	skipped question		8

15. What is your preferred method for receiving an invitation to a CME webcast or web site?
		Response Percent	Response Count
US Mail or equivalent		28.8%	164
Fax		4.2%	24
Email with links to conference web site		84.0%	478
Phone call		1.2%	7
Medical company sales rep		4.9%	28
PDA		0.5%	3
Other (please specify)			11
	answered question		569
	skipped question		30

16. In the last two years have you significantly increased the amount of accredited CME you get from webcasts or web site content?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		37.7%	221
No		62.3%	365
Other (please specify)			7
	answered question		586
	skipped question		13

17. For CME activities that you don't have to travel to, what time of the day/week do you prefer to participate in them?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Morning, before office hours or surgery, at home		4.5%	26
Morning, before office hours or surgery, at office		7.2%	41
Breaks during the day		17.0%	97
Evening, in my office, after office hours or surgery		9.8%	56
Evening, at home, after office hours or surgery		33.6%	192
Weekends or holidays		23.4%	134
During travel in my car or train		4.5%	26
Other (please specify)			20
	answered question		572
	skipped question		27

18. Should medical companies (pharmaceutical or medical device firms) be providers for accredited CME meetings or events of any types?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		66.2%	380
No		34.0%	195
Other (please specify)			23
	answered question		574
	skipped question		25

19. Should CME providers (for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, hospitals, medical schools) receive any funding from medical companies for accredited CME events or activities?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		79.4%	458
No		20.6%	119
Other (please specify)			31
	answered question		577
	skipped question		22

20. If medical companies provide funding for accredited CME events or activities, should they have any input in what topics are discussed or what information is mentioned and discussed?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		27.6%	160
No		72.4%	420
Other (please specify)			25
	answered question		580
	skipped question		19

21. If medical companies provide funding for accredited CME events, should they have any influence over which physicians are chosen to speak at CME events or provide content for any CME activities?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		26.6%	155
No		73.4%	427
Other (please specify)			19
	answered question		582
	skipped question		17

22. Should medical companies have exhibit booths for their products at accredited CME meetings that are sponsored or funded by the medical companies?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		93.0%	542
No		7.2%	42
Other (please specify)			17
	answered question		583
	skipped question		16

23. Should medical companies be allowed to pay accredited CME providers to have an exhibit booth at a CME meeting that the medical company did not sponsor or fund?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		77.4%	442
No		22.6%	129
Other (please specify)			16
	answered question		571
	skipped question		28

24. Should medical companies be listed as sponsors in the marketing materials for accredited CME meetings if the medical companies are sponsoring or funding the CME event?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		92.8%	543
No		7.4%	43
Other (please specify)			10
	answered question		585
	skipped question		14

25. Should physicians who speak at accredited CME activities, or who provide any content for CME of any type, always publicly disclose any funding and/or affiliations they have with medical companies?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		97.1%	572
No		3.1%	18
Other (please specify)			10
	answered question		589
	skipped question		10

26. Should physicians who speak at accredited CME events receive any remuneration, (other than payment for their travel, lodging and other expenses)?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		75.0%	435
No		25.2%	146
Other (please specify)			27
	answered question		580
	skipped question		19

27. Many accredited CME credits that physicians obtain are free because of support or sponsorship by medical companies. If this type of support or sponsorship was discontinued would you be willing to pay for all your required CME credits?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		58.5%	329
No		41.5%	233
Other (please specify)			49
	answered question		562
	skipped question		37

28. Have you ever been a speaker at any accredited CME activities or events (live or webcast)?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		66.2%	392
No		34.0%	201
Other (please specify)			5
	answered question		592
	skipped question		7

29. If you have been a speaker at an accredited CME event or activity, did you receive compensation for your time and expertise (above and beyond your expenses) from a medical company?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		33.7%	155
No		67.0%	308
Other (please specify)			54
	answered question		460
	skipped question		139

30. If you have received compensation for being a speaker at an accredited CME event (above and beyond your expenses) have medical companies tried to influence your content?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		10.3%	38
No		90.2%	333
Other (please specify)			83
	answered question		369
	skipped question		230

31. Should the government regulate accredited CME activities and/or content?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		16.5%	96
No		83.5%	487
Other (please specify)			27
	answered question		583
	skipped question		16

32. Do you like to participate in online healthcare surveys?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		69.1%	389
No		30.9%	174
Other (please specify)			38
	answered question		563
	skipped question		36

33. Would you like to participate in other WhatDoctorsThink.com online surveys?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		74.8%	412
No		25.2%	139
Other (please specify)			41
	answered question		551
	skipped question		48

34. Would you like to participate in various CME-related, and other types of online surveys where you receive honorariums for your time and expertise?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		75.0%	423
No		25.4%	143
Other (please specify)			29
	answered question		564
	skipped question		35

Comments

Is it possible to have a printable report of this survey? If so, please e-mail to andrew.baumann@ahcmedia.com
Posted by Very interesting survey results on 04/22/2008 08:26:01 EST

Thanks very much for sending this and for all the work that was put into it. I find the results very interesting and helpful. There certainly are not enough of these kinds of survey results in the public domain.
An observation regarding the survey you conducted: I found that some of the CME terminology was not used correctly. Even if it had been, it is very possible that the responding physicians might not necessarily understand the nuances of the terminology (for instance the differences between a sponsor, a supporter, and a provider) commonly used within the CME community. It seems that the CME community uses a lexicon of CME terms that are not well-understood by others.

The incorrect and inconsistent use of CME terminology in a few questions in the survey (and variations in how the responding physicians may interpret/define the actual terms used in the survey) may lead to some incorrect interpretations of the results for a few of the questions. For example, question 18 asks if medical companies should be providers for accredited CME meetings or events. Current ACCME regulations of course prevent medical companies from being ACCME-accredited “providers” of CME. Did the survey mean to ask if medical companies should “support” or “provide financial support” for accredited CME meetings or events? Respondents might answer the question differently depending on their interpretation of the term “providers”. Question 19 then asks if CME providers should receive any funding from medical companies. Here I believe you are using the ACCME definition of provider.

Question 22—medical companies (as defined in your survey) cannot “sponsor” CME according to the ACCME definition of sponsor—they support it or fund it. According to the ACCME, the CME provider is the sponsor of a CME event. The terms seem to be incorrectly matched in the question. Question 24—According to ACCME rules, medical companies should never be listed as “sponsors” on marketing materials for accredited CME meetings—they are supporters. Question 29—Did the survey mean to ask if they, as a speaker at a CME activity, were paid their honoraria directly by the medical company (a clear violation of the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support), or did you mean to ask if they got paid an honorarium at all (for instance from the CME provider)?

My apologies for being picky. Overall I thought the survey design and results were very insightful.

Best Regards, Derek
Posted by Derek Dietze on 04/22/2008 08:53:14 EST

If possible to receive a printable report of these survey results, please e-mail to campbeg@ccf.org
Posted by Glenn on 04/22/2008 09:22:24 EST

This is a wonderful and timely survey, and refreshingly available to all. There are minor glitches, already noted by others, but which CME professionals can easily interpolate per the ACCME terminology,. Audio-Digest Foundation has done a similar but much briefer survey on uses of and preferences for differing CME modes, which I’ll send to anyone who emails me for it. (johnbwright@verizon.net ).

It amazes me that there are no primary care physicians among the specialists listed and tabulated here. Was there a reason for excluding them?

For possible follow-up, it would help to have a survey covering the kinds of outcomes research increasingly directed at doctors who, again, do not understand ACCME goals and requirements. It might include evolving principles and techniques being applied, e.g., serial learning, gap analyses, case-based scenarios, multi-supporter, multi-sponsor, multimedia components, etc. Few practitioners yet appreciate the pressures on us all to do this, and for themselves to demonstrate changes in practice behavior more than “simple” cognitive learning.

Has DoctorNet thought about expanding its services to participate in outcomes research, and the integration of its findings with those of collaborating CME providers? We’re learning the ways and advantages to such sharing of our needs surveys, test form results and other outcomes follow-up surveys.

You may also be opening a possible online interactive community for providers (sponsors), supporters, and even CME faculty, such as those who responded to this questionnaire.
John Wright, Audio-Digest Foundation

Posted by John Wright on 04/23/2008 14:12:54 EST

Excellent survey. Congratulations. I will use it for comparisons
Posted by Helios Pardell (Hpardell@comb.es) on 05/28/2008 11:26:40 EST

Thanks for sharing the results of the survey. I would be interested in learning whether you sent the survey to a broader range of physicians than the specialties noted in Question 1 or were these the only physicians you contacted? It would be interesting to asses the specialties who responded to the survey. As noted by others, there are some issues with terminology that could affect interpretation, but I appreciate the data!
Posted by Kathy Smith on 09/11/2008 09:30:52 EST