American ophthalmology graduate medical education and the web: current state of internet resource utilization.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the presence and accessibility of ophthalmology graduate medical education (GME) programs on the internet and the degree to which web-based resources are currently being utilized by American Ophthalmology training programs.


METHODS
Prospective sampling of internet postings of ophthalmology GME programs.


METHODS
Ophthalmology residency programs listed in the American Medical Association Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) online website (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997. html) were evaluated. Departmental websites were accessed either directly from the FREIDA website or from one of eight search engines or four metacrawlers utilized in the study. Each site was evaluated for the presence, extent, and type of postings in the following categories: residency, medical student resources, faculty, patient care, video utilization, and links.


RESULTS
Departments with websites numbered 102 (83%). Specific posting rates were residency 84%; medical student resource 12%; faculty 72%; patient care 69%; video 2%; links 70%.


CONCLUSIONS
Most departments have websites, but only a small number have postings in all categories.
Mayo
George L
GL
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 78229, USA.
Lindhorst
Grace C
GC
Rosende
Carlos
C
D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce