The epidemiology of physician learning.

Because medicine and education share a striking number of attributes, the authors explored epidemiology-a tool useful in medicine-as a perspective on the education of physicians. More specifically, the parallel between medicine and education was examined, key features of epidemiology were identified, and these were used in exploring attributes of the continuing education of physicians. This exploration involved both a regional study of primary care physicians for adults and a national study of a single specialty.