title: [Three years of vertical networking in the German Network of Competence on Viral Hepatitis: what can we learn from the usage of different information tools?].
abstract: Treatment of patients with viral hepatitis is time-consuming and sometimes complicated. Several sources of information have been established as internet sites, however systematic analyses of the need and use of these information platforms are lacking. The Competence Network on Viral Hepatitis (Hep-Net) was established in 2002 and offers a telephone hotline, an e-mail service and a home page with frequently asked questions (FAQs). On the internet pages "FAQs" 38 125 hits have been registered on single "question-answer-units" within three years. In a half of the cases the question are associated with modes of transmission. In contrast, patient's questions in e-mail and the telephone hotline are mainly dealing with the treatment of hepatitis C. More than 46 % of the physician's questions referred to unclearness in indications for treatment. Questions on specific medical problems of individual patients and, in e-mail, also on legal issues played a major part. Many of these questions have not been addressed in the actual guidelines in Germany. In summary, the Hep-Net vertical networking tools represent a fast, quality-assured endorsement to the daily management of patients with viral hepatitis. The combination of internet, e-mail service and telephone hotline gives consideration to individual necessities of patients and physicians. However, the detailed analysis of usage also shows limitations of current guidelines which should be considered during updating.
authors.affiliation: Kompetenznetz Hepatitis, c/o Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Abteilung für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manns
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks; D016208:Databases, Factual; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*