Methods. – A 73 items survey was mailed to 1,000 anaesthesiologists (11 % of anaesthesiologists population) of geographic, gender and institution representative of national anaesthesiologist demography. A second mail was sent to non-responders, 6 weeks later.
Results. – The answer rate was 40.8 % and the sample of responders appeared to match the French anaesthesiologist population. Seventy-two percent of surveyed anaesthesiologists were affiliated to the French society of anaesthesia-intensive care and 24 % to other medical societies. Attendance to French congresses was 81 % and miscellaneous congresses were equally appreciated in terms of quality. Only 17 % of surveyed anaesthesiologists attended international congresses. Multi-thematic congresses were preferred by 67 % . The annual time devoted to congresses was 6 days (median) with additional 4 days (median) reserved for practical courses. French medical journals and international journals had a reading rate of 89 and 37 % , respectively. For 61 % of responders CME was funded by institutional grants. Internet CME use was found in 73 % of anaesthesiologists. Time and money were the two most frequent reasons invoked for CME restriction.
Conclusion. – CME is a broadly shared activity, which still remains focussed on national resources.