title: International distance-learning outreach: the APEC EINet experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Emerging Infections Network is a mature electronic network that links Public Health professionals in the Asia Pacific through regular e-mail bulletins and an extensive Web site (http://www.apec.org/infectious). Emerging infections is a new area of study; learning materials help foster education. Our objective is to quantify the response of the network to the introduction of distance-learning materials on the Web site.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distance-learning materials, developed by the University of Washington School of Public Health, were field tested and launched on the site. Publicity was carried out prior to the launch of the materials. Access was tracked prospectively using server counts of page downloads.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Web access increased substantially during the month after the materials were launched, especially among Asia based computers. The effect was isolated to the distance-learning pages, and not general to the site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This Web site appears to be responsive to the advertisement and to the materials. Prospective Web-site monitoring proved useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. akimball@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pautler
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolles
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Horwitch
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D014481:United States