Internet-based medical education: use of an "expert-corner" for disseminating radiologic information and determining users' educational interests.
OBJECTIVE
A website dedicated to body computed tomography (CT) offers users the opportunity to submit any question to a national expert. The purpose of this study was to characterize inquiries submitted over a 1-year period.


METHODS
A total of 408 questions posed by users between February 2003 and February 2004 were reviewed and categorized. Web tracking was conducted to evaluate the program utilization over a 3-year period.


RESULTS
Of the questions submitted, those addressing data acquisition protocols and intravenous contrast administration comprised 55% (224/408). Web tracking demonstrated that the number of visits to this educational program has progressively increased since 2003.


CONCLUSIONS
Users requesting information were most interested in the proper performance of CT data acquisition. An Internet-based expert corner is a promising channel to deliver experience based radiologic information.
The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Room 3251, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. pjohnso5@jhmi.edu
Pamela T
PT
Johnson
Melissa R
MR
Rowell
Elliot K
EK
Fishman
D020407:Internet; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed