Anesthesia 2.0: internet-based information resources and Web 2.0 applications in anesthesia education.
OBJECTIVE
Informatics is a broad field encompassing artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, information science, and social science. The goal of this review is to illustrate how Web 2.0 information technologies could be used to improve anesthesia education.


RESULTS
Educators in all specialties of medicine are increasingly studying Web 2.0 technologies to maximize postgraduate medical education of housestaff. These technologies include microblogging, blogs, really simple syndication (RSS) feeds, podcasts, wikis, and social bookmarking and networking. 'Anesthesia 2.0' reflects our expectation that these technologies will foster innovation and interactivity in anesthesia-related web resources which embraces the principles of openness, sharing, and interconnectedness that represent the Web 2.0 movement. Although several recent studies have shown benefits of implementing these systems into medical education, much more investigation is needed.


CONCLUSIONS
Although direct practice and observation in the operating room are essential, Web 2.0 technologies hold great promise to innovate anesthesia education and clinical practice such that the resident learner need not be in a classroom for a didactic talk, or even in the operating room to see how an arterial line is properly placed. Thoughtful research to maximize implementation of these technologies should be a priority for development by academic anesthesiology departments. Web 2.0 and advanced informatics resources will be part of physician lifelong learning and clinical practice.
Chu
Larry F
LF
Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. lchu@stanford.edu
Young
Chelsea
C
Zamora
Abby
A
Kurup
Viji
V
Macario
Alex
A
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D057218:Blogging; D003146:Communications Media; D003198:Computer Simulation; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends*; D012984:Software