Abstract
Continuing medical education (CME) is essential for aesthetic medicine doctors to remain current and preserve their professional competencies. Nonetheless, the CME needs of Chinese aesthetic medicine practitioners are largely unfulfilled, with minimal investigation into their learning requirements and preferences relative to their professional backgrounds. This gap impedes the efficacy of CME programs. This study explores the landscape of CME among aesthetic medicine doctors in China and assesses their learning requirements, motivations, and preferences across different stages of practice and professional backgrounds. The objective is to provide insights for enhancing the effectiveness of CME programs. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical aesthetic doctors throughout China. A structured questionnaire, which included sections on demographics, CME status, and learning motivations and preferences, was employed. The questionnaire was distributed electronically to ensure participant anonymity. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple-choice analysis, and χ(2) tests. The authors of this study surveyed 1038 aesthetic medicine doctors from over 1000 cosmetic institutions and revealed that 30.6% had unmet CME needs, particularly in lower tier cities and public hospitals. Key motivations for CME participation included personal interest, opportunities for academic exchange, and maintaining workplace competitiveness, with preferences leaning toward cosmetology associations and online platforms. The highest demand was for training in filler injections, followed by aesthetic laser techniques and surgical procedures. Notably, learning motivations and preferences varied according to years of practice. CME programs should be designed to address the particular needs of aesthetic physicians, thereby enhancing their practice and professional growth. To better achieve CME objectives, training strategies should be tailored according to different practice stages. Level of Evidence: 5 (Therapeutic).