[Profile of the physician registered in the National Program of Continuous Academic Development for the General Physician].

A descriptive, transversal study was done on 881 physicians taking the National Program of Continuous Academic Development for the General Physician (PRONADAMEG) at 27 sites during the second semester of 2002. The general purpose of the study was to determine the sociodemographic, academic, and professional profile of the physician enrolled in the program, as well as their opinion on the program and their need for education. Age of enrolled physicians is between 35 and 54 years (70.6%), sex distribution is equal, and 66% of physicians are married. Ninety four percent have a medical practice that takes up the majority of their time. The study showed that 66.4% of physicians worked at public institutions, mainly at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and the Mexican Health Ministry (SSa). One physician trainied outside of Mexico, and 12.2% have a speciality in family medicine. Of physicians in the study, 32% participated informal continuous medical education and used medical journals for this purpose. The program was seen as helpful by 89% of physicians in the study, and the study suggests that knowing the profile of physicians enrolled in the program will allow academic planning for the program and the true needs for education general physicians.