[A survey study on "Turk-Orthopod", a Turkish electronic discussion group in orthopedics and traumatology].
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated demographic data of Turk-orthopod members, an electronic mailing list organized for communication between Turkish speaking orthopedic surgeons, and the contribution of the mailing list to the academic improvement and education of its members.


METHODS
A twenty-seven item questionnaire was prepared for online survey and an e-mail massage was sent to the members of the e-group asking them to respond to the questionnaire.


RESULTS
The response rate was 33% (n=225; 224 males, 1 female; mean age 36.5 years; range 25 to 64 years). A great majority of the respondents (74.2%) worked in a teaching hospital as a member of active education; 104 respondents worked in a medical school, and 76 respondents (33.8%) had a faculty membership. Access to scientific information (55.1%) was the most frequent reason for using the Internet. Messages related to case discussions (60.9%) and scientific announcements (27.6%) received the most attention and interest. Of the participants, 56.4% reported to have read all the incoming messages, and 35.1% reported not to have sent any messages to the group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our electronic discussion group, Turk-orthopod, has proved to be a quick communication tool, presenting a considerable potential to contribute to continuous medical education of Turkish orthopedists.
Arazi
Mehmet
M
Selçuk Universitesi Meram Tip Fakültesi, Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dali, Konya. marazi@selcuk.edu.tr
Yaman
Hakan
H
Heybeli
Nurettin
N
D000328:Adult; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education*; D014421:Turkey