Assessing physicians' continuing medical education (CME) needs in the U.S.-associated Pacific jurisdictions.

OBJECTIVE To assess the self-perceived continuing medical education (CME) needs of physicians in American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. METHODS Questionnaire-based survey of all physicians. RESULTS Responses obtained from a total of 143 physicians in the region provided information on training backgrounds, previous experiences with CME, local access to regular CME sessions, perceived priority educational needs and preferred methods of CME delivery. CONCLUSIONS Overall 64% of respondents had attended a formal CME event in 1999 or 2000, and 71% had access to local weekly or biweekly CME. However the perceived usefulness of these events varied by region. Priority learning needs were identified by physicians including non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and tropical diseases; as well as skills such as EKG and X-ray interpretation, trauma management and cardiac life support. Information on the most pressing educational needs and desired methods of delivery will be crucial in planning CME in this region.