Survey of general practitioners' views on postgraduate education in North-east Scotland

A questionnaire was sent to all doctors in North-east Scotland enquiring about postgraduate education. The educational programme devised by the Education Committee of the North-east Scotland Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners was considered to be relevant, interesting, and well-planned. Suggestions made by the doctors have been taken account of by the Education Committee in their present programme.

Journals considered to have the best educational content were Prescriber's Journal, Update and The Practitioner. Those doctors who read The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners thought it expressed up-to-date and helpful views about the development of general practice. However, it was ranked poorly alongside such journals as Update.

The doctors rated contact with their partners and hospital colleagues as the most important sources of education. These links must be a growth point for postgraduate education within an integrated health service.

One-week courses, covering several subjects with a variety of presentations, were most favoured by the replying doctors.