The article, written jointly by a provider and an evaluator of distance learning, begins by highlighting recent increased interest in continuing professional development. In particular community pharmacists' needs for continuing education are examined against a background of their changing role. The authors then report the ® ndings from a one-year evaluation of distance learning materials produced and distributedby the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education at the University of Manchester. The evaluation, undertaken by a team from the Scottish Council for Research in Education, was conducted in two phases: ® rst, a national survey of registered pharmacists, and second, a series of focus group meetings with practising pharmacists. By separating high, low and non-users, a picture of professional use of distance learning, the in¯uence of mediating factors and the inter-relationship between personal motivation and design emerge. Some of the ® ndings challenge the current orthodoxy (see for example, Lewis 1995, Burt 1997, Burt and Simpson 1998, Bennett 1998 which underpins distance learning. Finally, changes made as a consequence of the evaluation are indicated, showing how research can in¯uence practice.