Help! Is anyone listening? An assessment of learning needs of practicing physicians.

We used a theoretical framework of adult learning, physician learning and change, and educational evaluation to assess physician--learner needs. The study emphasized the physician's perspective and the context of expressed needs. The respondents acknowledged ineffective learning patterns and lack of ongoing self-assessment, and identified changing and specific, emerging, learning needs. New roles are suggested for CME providers. We believe our findings support the usefulness of an integrated theoretical perspective to guide needs assessment that will be cognizant of the complexity of ongoing professional learning.