Continuing Medical Education Needs and Practices of General Practitioners in Ondo State

Background: Continuing medical education is essential to maintaining clinical competency and keeping practitioners abreast of evolving evidence-based guidelines. This study assesses the continuing medical education needs and practices of general practitioners in Ondo State, South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled 130 general practitioners using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from established CME needs assessment frameworks. Participants were identified through the Ondo State Medical Association register. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were applied. Results: Participation in formal CME activities was low among respondents, with most relying on self-directed learning through textbooks and online resources. Non-communicable disease management, mental health, and palliative care were identified as the highest training needs. Cost of attendance, distance to accredited CME venues, and workload constraints were the primary barriers. Conclusion: General practitioners in Ondo State face significant barriers to formal continuing medical education that limit professional development. Accrediting bodies and family medicine departments should develop accessible, locally hosted, and blended-learning CME programmes to address identified knowledge gaps and improve rural healthcare quality. Keywords: continuing medical education, general practitioners, Ondo State, professional development, training needs