Profile of Internet users: survey of the Surgical Section of the AAP

Communication through electronic networks is becoming a most useful resource of health care providers.

Establish the demographic and professional profile and identify the internet service provider of members of the Surgery Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

A short survey questionnaire including variables of age, gender, years of experience, type of practice and internet service provider was mailed to all members of the Surgical Section of the AAP. Two-hundred and six responses of 588 (35%) were received and analyzed.

Mean age of the group was 52 years of which 88% were male and 12% female (7.5:1). The group had an average of eighteen years of practice; 185 members (90%) have access to Internet and 188 (92%) use it mainly for e-mailing from either home (25%), hospital/office setting (30%) or both (42%). Twenty-three percent of member were willing to receive section news and correspondence by electronic means, by print-mail 34% and both 44%. Overall type of practice was private 21%, University 54% or combined 23%. No access to internet means an older member (57 yrs, p = 0.02) sharing solo (private) practice (p = 0.006). Two-third of internet service providers were university-based (-edu) or hospital organizations (-org) with a younger age group (48 yrs, p = 0.000001).

E-mailing is becoming the preferred method of communication among many members of the Section of Surgery of the AAP. Net accessibility through University or Children Hospital servers account for the high number of young members in this practice setting.