title: Preimplementation predictors of website use: preliminary findings from the SCORE portal pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  in 2008, the Surgical Council on Resident Education selected 33 residency programs to pilot its General Surgery Resident Curriculum Website Portal. The portal aims to reduce program variability in curricula, align teaching and learning with essential content, and improve resident study and performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  two online surveys were sent to all program directors and their residents before releasing the portal. Data from 32 programs and 899 residents (84%) were analyzed to determine the extent to which preimplementation characteristics supported the portal's rationale and illuminated barriers to its use and impact on learning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the need for curriculum content and access to online texts varied markedly across programs. Residents had easy onsite access to the Internet and used it heavily for immediate purposes. Fewer residents used the Web for planned activities and proactive study. On average, residents reported studying an hour or less a day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the portal appears to serve curricular resource needs and may better direct resident study. Programs are advised to consciously integrate the SCORE curriculum and portal into residency training and faculty development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, 11-145 Phillips Wangensteen Building, MMC 195, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. schmi002@umn.edu
authors.forename: Connie C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Risucci
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plass
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Darosa
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058013:Test Taking Skills