Editorial: An increase in continuing medical education activities by professional medical organizations.

Abstract

Elsewhere in this issue (pp 955-958) is a summary of a recent survey of the continuing education activities of state medical associations and medical specialty societies. Although the findings are not entirely comparable with those of a similar survey conducted in 1971 (p 955), a comparison of the two surveys indicates that a substantial increase in continuing medical education programs has occurred among medical specialty societies and state medical associations. There are several indications of growth activity. A substantial increase in self-assessment programs.— The 1970 survey reported five specialty societies with self-assessment programs in operation; the 1972 survey identifies 13 self-assessment programs sponsored by specialty societies. Of these, 11 societies reported a total of 89,099 physician participants. While the total does include a few physicians who took self-assessment examinations more than one time, the number is equal to about one third of all practicing physicians in the United States.