[Using the internet in continuous medical education].
BACKGROUND
Modern information technology enables alternative strategies for education and communication. This is a description of a project for systematic utilisation of the internet for distant meetings and professional communication within geriatric medicine.


METHODS
A net site has been developed and is being used for the distribution of professionally relevant material, as well as visual aids for audio conferences. The hospitals take their turn giving introductions, and active audience participation is a must. The project has been assessed through a questionnaire survey.


RESULTS
88 audio conferences have been carried out since September 1998. The number of participating hospitals has increased from 6 to 28; the audience varies from 40 to 90 per session. On average, 56% are doctors, 19% nurses, 20% physiotherapists or occupational therapists, 4% have other backgrounds. 100 persons returned the questionnaire (response rate 86%). At an ordinal scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (good), respondents' median global assessment of the project was 4 (interquartile range 3-4); they were particularly satisfied with the professional standard of the lectures, and they found it motivating to work in a field in which modern information technology is put to use. Their use of the net site for other purposes than the audio conferences was very limited.


CONCLUSIONS
Health professionals in the field of geriatrics saw the project as a help in keeping themselves up to date. Audio conferences may supplement intramural educational sessions but cannot substitute for them.
D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D020375:Education, Distance; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009664:Norway; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000193:education; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013689:Telephone