How internists learned about cimetidine.

We surveyed 449 general internists to determine how they first heard about, learned the clinical principles of usage of, and gained update information on cimetidine. Fifty-six percent of those responding named two or more sources for learning how to use cimetidine, and 59% named two or more sources for updating their knowledge. Medical journals were the single most popular source of information in all stages of learning; the next commonest sources were continuing medical education programs and discussion with colleagues, followed by Medical Letter, pharmaceutical company representatives, and hospital rounds. The importance of individual learning should not be overlooked by medical educators in attempts to improve continuing medical education.