Internet-based health education in China: a content analysis of websites.
BACKGROUND
The Internet is increasingly being applied in health education worldwide; however there is little knowledge of its use in Chinese higher education institutions. The present study provides the first review and highlights the deficiencies and required future advances in Chinese Internet-based health education.


METHODS
Two authors independently conducted a duplicate Internet search in order to identify information regarding Internet-based health education in China.


RESULTS
The findings showed that Internet-based education began in China in September 1998. Currently, only 16 of 150 (10.7%) health education institutions in China offer fee-based online undergraduate degree courses, awarding associates and/or bachelors degrees. Fifteen of the 16 institutions were located in the middle or on the eastern coast of China, where were more developed than other regions. Nursing was the most popular discipline in Internet-based health education, while some other disciplines, such as preventive medicine, were only offered at one university. Besides degree education, Chinese institutions also offered non-degree online training and free resources. The content was mainly presented in the form of PowerPoint slides or videos for self-learning. Very little online interactive mentoring was offered with any of the courses.


CONCLUSIONS
There is considerable potential for the further development of Internet-based health education in China. These developments should include a focus on strengthening cooperation among higher education institutions in order to develop balanced online health curricula, and on enhancing distance education in low- and middle-income regions to meet extensive learning demands.
Ying
Y
Peng
Xi
X
Wu
Salla
S
Atkins
Merrick
M
Zwarentein
Ming
M
Zhu
Xing Xin
XX
Zhan
Fan
F
Zhang
Peng
P
Ran
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. weirongy@gmail.com.
Wei Rong
WR
Yan
D002681:China; D020375:Education, Distance; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D020407:Internet; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data