title: Quality management of eLearning for medical education: current situation and outlook.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2008, the German Council of Science had advised universities to establish a quality management system (QMS) that conforms to international standards. The system was to be implemented within 5 years, i.e., until 2014 at the latest. The aim of the present study was to determine whether a QMS suitable for electronic learning (eLearning) domain of medical education to be used across Germany has meanwhile been identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  We approached all medical universities in Germany (n=35), using an anonymous questionnaire (8 domains, 50 items).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results (response rate 46.3%) indicated very reluctant application of QMS in eLearning and a major information deficit at the various institutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Authors conclude that under the limitations of this study there seems to be a considerable need to improve the current knowledge on QMS for eLearning, and that clear guidelines and standards for their implementation should be further defined.
authors.affiliation: Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Carolinum Dental University-Institute gGmbH, Department of Operative Dentistry, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abrusch
authors.affiliation: Clinic of University Regensburg, Medical Faculty, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marienhagen
authors.affiliation: University of Ulm, Medical Faculty, Institute of Anantomy and Cell Biology, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böckers
authors.affiliation: Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Carolinum Dental University-Institute gGmbH, Department of Operative Dentistry, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerhardt-Szép
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D012015:Reference Standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: eLearning; education; quality; quality assurance; quality management