Introduction and objective:
The acquisition and constant up-dating of knowledge is an indispensable component of the professional development of physicians. An occupational and ethical duty of every physician is the provision of patients with care based on scientific knowledge supported by scientific evidence. Physicians are exposed to various types of problems and barriers affecting the pace and effectiveness of their development in the process of occupational improvement. The most frequent of them are financial and time barriers, as well as occupational burn-out. At a time of increasingly higher expectations, increase in the amount of information, accelerated pace of changes and increasing complexity, the provision of support for continuing education by physicians is necessary.

Aim:
The objective of the study was to discover the effectiveness of functioning of the system of occupational improvement among physicians.

Material and Methods:
The study covered 150 respondents, and was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey using the questionnaire designed by the author containing 9 closed questions.

Results:
The forms of professional improvement most frequently chosen by physicians in the study were trainings, conferences, symposia and journal subscriptions. The majority of respondents participate several times a year in conferences, symposia and training courses organized by medical facilities or pharmaceutical companies.

Conclusions:
Physicians belong to the occupational group which should constantly up-date and expand their knowledge. The system of occupation al improvement functioning in Poland often does not meet these expectations. The assumptions of the system are defined as correct; however, their performance is wrong. As a result, physicians do not have possibilities to carry out professional improvement in the form which would be most effective and convenient for them.