[Construction and application of an information transfer system on prevalence of infectious disease for subscriber in a regional medical association].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the utility of an e-mail information exchange system, for subscription by members of a regional medical association, focusing on surveillance of infectious disease.


METHODS
Questionnaires regarding addition to the mailing list were first addressed to all 474 members of Yokkaichi regional medical association. After management for about three months, questionnaires focused on utility and application of the system were mailed out.


RESULTS
One hundred and seventy-three members (36.5%) responded in the questionnaire survey, then 73 of them (subsequently 75) actually subscribed. Forty-six subscribers (61.3%) responded to the second questionnaire, and 23 of them (56.5%) were in favor of 'weekly and monthly infectious disease reports transmitted from our research division', and 22 (47.8%) were in favor of 'e-mail exchanges of information'.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that an electronic information transfer system is a useful medium for regional infectious disease efforts and contributions from primary care physicians.
Ohkuma
Kazuyuki
K
Mie Prefectural Science and Technology Promotion Center, Public Health and Environment Research Division.
Teramoto
Yoshihiro
Y
Fukuta
Miwa
M
Takahashi
Hiroaki
H
Nakayama
Osamu
O
Wada
Fumiaki
F
D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D007564:Japan; D015995:Prevalence; D012955:Societies, Medical