The Impact of CME

A review of the literature evaluating the effectiveness of Continuing Medical Education (CME) was undertaken using articles from 1935 to 1982.238 studies were reviewed and annotated using previously established and tested assessment criteria. These criteria included the following areas: the study design; the educational or administrative intervention; the evaluation maneuver used to assess the intervention's outcome; the health professionals used as subjects; andfinally, the educational and statistical significance of the study. It would appear that CMEinterventions when broadly defied, have an impact on physician competence and (less consistently though still in a positive direction) on physician performance and patient outcomes. Further research in both the methods and evaluation of CME is necessary.