News and briefs: Physicians prefer online CME

Eliminating travel and learning at their own convenience are a few of the reasons physicians like virtual continuing medical education (CME) opportunities. In a recent survey, 84% of physicians said they would rather attend CME events through virtual portals as opposed to in person. Nearly 1,000 physicians across multiple specialties were surveyed by ON24, Inc., a virtual communications solutions company.

“These results demonstrate that virtual communication is becoming very important to the way doctors prefer to work,” said Sharat Sharan, CEO of ON24, in a press release on the company’s website. “In today’s digital age, medical professionals increasingly prefer virtual events and webcasts wherever they are—at their desks, on their laptops or with any mobile device—over traveling to in-person events.”

Although more than three-fourths of physicians like the virtual model, only 6.4% said they participate in virtual training very often. More than 90% of physicians said they would be able to participate in more CME opportunities if they were offered through a virtual platform.