Evaluation of e-textbooks. DynaMed, MD Consult and UpToDate.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the acceptability and utilisation of three electronic textbooks: DynaMed, MD Consult (including FirstConsult) and UpToDate.


METHODS
Two hundred general practitioners accessed three e-textbooks through a web portal. General practitioners completed an electronic survey and used a random selection during a telephone interview to answer four clinical questions: screening, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-two GPs made at least one hit through the study website. Eighty-four GPs completed the emailed questionnaire and 77 completed the telephone interview (36% of enrolled, 61% of users). Fifty-one percent of users accessed the e-textbooks less than 10 times over 8 months. There was no significant difference in preference for, or usage levels of, the three e-textbooks. During the telephone interview the three texts performed similarly in terms of time to answer and satisfaction with answer.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no clear 'winner' between the three e-textbooks.
Goodyear-Smith
Felicity
F
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, New Zealand. f.goodyear-smith@auckland.ac.nz
Kerse
Ngaire
N
Warren
Jim
J
Arroll
Bruce
B
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013782:Textbooks as Topic