Continuing education in cancer for the community physician: design and evaluation of a regional table of contents service

The Arnold Library of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center offered two groups of practicing physicians in nonmetropolitan areas of the Pacific Northwest an opportunity to review regularly their choice of eighteen cancer journal tables of contents with the added provision (in compliance with federal copyright laws) of being able to receive any articles of interest at no charge from the library. Forty-nine (38.9%) of the 126 physicians selected chose to participate in the program. Of these, 20 (40.8%) actually requested articles from the service. After six months of the service, all of the original 126 physicians were queried by questionnaire. Those who used the service felt it helped in their practice of medicine and that it should be continued. Those who chose not to receive the service generally had access to the eighteen journals elsewhere or saw very few cancer patients. A majority of the articles which had been requested emphasized patient treatment. Approximately 25% of one library technician's time and $360 for photocopy and mailing costs were required to operate the service for forty-nine physicians for six months. The service seemed to identify a select audience of regular users who perceived a benefit from its use.