Taking a closer look at Web-based CME: An exploratory study

Our research aim was to establish the views of key general practice informants about Web-based CME and how it could be made more attractive for general practitioners. A semi-structured, open-ended script was designed and piloted. Purposive sampling was used. Potential respondents involved in providing CME were identified. Recruitment continued until theme saturation was reached after the sixth interview. One potential respondent refused to participate. Interview transcripts were analysed for emerging themes using grounded theory. These were refined through ongoing discussions between researchers. Themes fell under three headings: (a) the ‘Individual professional’, (b) ‘Social issues’ and (c) ‘Information technology’. For each main theme, there were sub-themes. Continued positive attention to the major themes and sub-themes we found will improve the likelihood that future Web-based CME sites will be more attractive and more likely to meet general practitioners’ needs. In particular more attention needs to be paid to increasing general practitioner awareness of Web-based CME and to improving its funding.