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Introduction: Although several online continuing medical education (CME) offers exist, the utilization of these by physicians is still low. In this study, we aimed to investigate the attitude towards and use of the Internet and online CME in German general practitioners (GPs) and to identify potential starting points to increase the use of online CME. Methods: In June 2006, a standardized 6-page questionnaire with 27 questions on the topic “Internet and online continuing education” was sent to all general practitioners in 6 districts (n=1304) of South Baden and South Württemberg in Germany. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and exploratory regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of online CME usage. Furthermore, selected barriers were investigated in detail. Results: A total of 351 questionnaires were sent back, of which 349 could be included in the analysis (27% response rate). The sample is representative of the population contacted with respect to gender and qualifications. Univariate analyses showed that users of online CME were two years younger than non-users on average. Users spent two hours more on the Internet per week than non-users, and had been using the Internet for one year longer. Finally, users had better Internet skills, more often had previous experiences with online CME, and assessed the effectiveness of online CME to be higher and perceived fewer problems than non-users. Discussion: Measures to implement and increase the use of online CME can be aimed at different levels. The most important starting points are likely to be offering GPs the possibility to gain experience with online CME and improving their attitudes towards online CME. But for some physician populations, e.g. elderly or physicians with less Internet experience, e-learning might be an inferior option in comparison to traditional CME.

Introduction: Although several online continuing medical education (CME) offers exist, the utilization of these by physicians is still low. In this study, we aimed to investigate the attitude towards and use of the Internet and online CME in German general practitioners (GPs) and to identify potential starting points to increase the use of online CME. Methods: In June 2006, a standardized 6-page questionnaire with 27 questions on the topic „Internet and online continuing education‟ was sent to all general practitioners in 6 districts (n=1304) of South Baden and South Württemberg in Germany. Data were analyzed using descrip tive statistics, and exploratory regreßion analyses were performed to identify predictors of online CME usage. Furthermore, selected barriers were investigated in detail. Results: A total of 351 questionnaires were sent back, of which 349 could be included in the analysis (27% response rate). The sample is representative of the population contacted with respect to gender and qualifications. Univariate analyses showed that users of online CME were two years younger than non-users on average. Users spent two hours more on the Internet per week than non-users, and had been using the Internet for one year longer. Finally, users had better Internet skills, more often had previous experiences with online CME, and aßeßed the effectiveneß of online CME to be higher and perceived fewer problems than non-users. Discußion: Measures to implement and increase the use of online CME can be aimed at different levels. The most important starting points are likely to be offering GPs the poßibility to gain experience with online CME and improving their attitudes towards online CME. But for some physician populations, e.g. elderly or physicians with leß Internet experience, e-learning might be an inferior option in comparison to traditional CME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The present study examined whether frequently routinely collected data, such as demographic characteristics and health status/behaviours of patients as well as traditional laboratory parameters, may be used to substitute or to optimize questionnaire-based screening strategies for hazardous drinking. Methods: Univariate tests as well as Classification and Regression Tree (C&RT) analyses were performed in a sample of 2940 German primary care patients to create practitioner-friendly algorithms that predict hazardous drinking, as defined by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), from routinely collected data (demographic characteristics, health status/behaviours, laboratory parameters). Several different data basis scenarios and models were tested and compared with each other as well as with reference models. Results: In univariate analyses male sex, younger age, living without a partner, higher education, unemployment, good physical status, smoking, and increased values in laboratory markers (mean corpuscular volume, gamma glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase) were associated with an increased probability of hazardous drinking. C&RT analyses led to models defined by age, sex and smoking status. All routine data-based models proved to be significantly inferior to screening the total population with the AUDIT questionnaire. Conclusions: In spite of the associations of routinely collected demographic, health status/behaviour and laboratory data with hazardous drinking, screening strategies that are based solely on such information are not as accurate as the administration of screening questionnaires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite the demographically driven rapid growth of the number of persons with dementia, in Germany a website is lacking that provides evidence based information about the disease, its burden and therapeutic options to family and professional carers as well as physicians. A website was developed with the objective to give free access to evidence based information concerning the disease and care for patients with dementia., Methods: In order to meet the expectations of the user groups an analysis of information needs was performed with 80 physicians, 163 professional carers and 104 family carers., Results: All user groups rated information on symptoms, course and treatment of dementia and support for family carers as important topics. Group differences were found for the need to be informed on financial support, daily care and interaction with patients., Conclusions: The contents of the website will be accommodated to the specific needs of the user groups., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Introduction: Although several online continuing medical education (CME) offers exist, the utilization of these by physicians is still low. In this study, we aimed to investigate the attitude towards and use of the Internet and online CME in German general practitioners (GPs) and to identify potential starting points to increase the use of online CME., Methods: In June 2006, a standardized 6-page questionnaire with 27 questions on the topic "Internet and online continuing education" was sent to all general practitioners in 6 districts (n=1304) of South Baden and South Württemberg in Germany. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and exploratory regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of online CME usage. Furthermore, selected barriers were investigated in detail., Results: A total of 351 questionnaires were sent back, of which 349 could be included in the analysis (27% response rate). The sample is representative of the population contacted with respect to gender and qualifications. Univariate analyses showed that users of online CME were two years younger than non-users on average. Users spent two hours more on the Internet per week than non-users, and had been using the Internet for one year longer. Finally, users had better Internet skills, more often had previous experiences with online CME, and assessed the effectiveness of online CME to be higher and perceived fewer problems than non-users., Discussion: Measures to implement and increase the use of online CME can be aimed at different levels. The most important starting points are likely to be offering GPs the possibility to gain experience with online CME and improving their attitudes towards online CME. But for some physician populations, e.g. elderly or physicians with less Internet experience, e-learning might be an inferior option in comparison to traditional CME.

Background and Objective: In recent years, there has been an increasing trend towards the development of e-learning-modules for general medical training and continuing medical education (CME). The majority of these offerings make use of the Internet. The aim of this study was to examine general practitioners' attitude towards and their use of the Internet and online CME, their demand for such offerings and the problems associated with it on the basis of a representative survey., Methods: In June 2006, a standardized 6-page questionnaire with 27 questions about "The Internet and online CME" was sent out to all general practitioners in six districts (n = 1304) of South-Baden and South-Württemberg in Germany. Data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis., Results: 351 physicians (27%) returned the questionnaire. The majority (94.5%) reported to have Internet access, but mostly at home, and not in the office. 45.9% of the respondents rated their Internet skills as "moderate", and 31.9% as "good" or "very good". The physicians' rating of the effectiveness of online CME was similar: 39% rated it as "moderate", and 31.1% as "high" or "very high". Usage of online CME was low: only 19.9% reported "frequent" or "very frequent" use., Conclusion: The technical conditions for using the Internet are quite favourable. The effectiveness of online CME was rated between "moderate" and "high". However, the use of such offerings is poor. Further analyses of the data will provide possible starting points for implementing online CME services or for increasing its use.