Information seeking strategies that primary care physicians use to supplement their knowledge in problem solving were studied to help tailor continuing medical education (CME) courses for various groups of physicians. Of interest were: the sequences physicians use to access different sources, variability among physicians in information search patterns, relative frequency different choice sequences are used, differences in information seeking between primary care physicians in internal medicine and family practice, and links between strategies and preferences for CME formats. A total of 98 internists and 73 family practitioners identified the first and second information sources they would use when faced with a difficult medical problem for which they were uncertain of the answer. Physicians also indicated on a seven-point scale how often each of six information sources typically gave the answer needed. Respondents also provided information on demographics, specialty, board certification status, CME attendance in the past year, and CME preferences. An overall pattern emerged: the initial information source choice was either textbooks or journals, followed by informal discussion with colleagues, consultation with community specialists, consultation with outside specialists, and transfer of the patient to another physician. (SW)