Free internal medicine case-based education through the World Wide Web: how, where, and with what?
OBJECTIVE
To identify and evaluate electronic internal medicine educational sources and develop a list of major Web sites for interested practitioners.


METHODS
From July 1 to August 20, 2006, we searched Web sites derived from academic and nonacademic institutions, medical journal Web sites, and medical Web sites based on selection criteria, including extent of information, update periods, and validity of the source.


RESULTS
We present a list of related Web sites that have been selected as practical, valid, and freely accessed. Brief descriptions and particular characteristics of these sites are also provided.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians willing to augment their education on decision making and advances in the field of internal medicine can consult abundant Internet resources, many derived from leading academic and nonacademic sources. The future may see entire educational courses being conducted on the World Wide Web, unifying the medical community, provided some forms of free access are implemented.
Pappas
Georgios
G
Institute for Continuing Medical Education of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Falagas
Matthew E
ME
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D020407:Internet