An electronic survey of physicians using online clinical discussion groups: a brief report

Online discussion groups are a relatively new form of informal communication among physicians. Physicians' Online, an Internet-based medical information and communication network with a current membership base that includes more than 200,000, United States physicians, contains extensive bulletin-board discussion areas with more than 47,000 topics posted to date. There are no published data available regarding the characteristics and behaviors of the individuals who participate in these discussions.

To better characterize the users of these groups, in March 1998, we posted an eight-question, multiple-choice electronic survey on Physicians' Online's home page inviting users of the clinical discussion groups to participate.

We analyzed responses from 586 participants. The most common characteristics were: urban and Northeastern United States location, age less than 55 years, clinical practice of internal medicine or one of its subspecialties, private solo or single/multispecialty group practice, and reported weekly consultation with three or less colleagues. Most physicians were interested in specific clinical cases. Forty-one percent of the respondents chose to read discussion groups only but rarely or never initiated or responded.

Younger age, urban setting, private practice, and infrequent consultation with colleagues were the most common characteristics found among users of Physicians' Online's online clinical discussion groups. That specific clinical cases were the most common interest speaks to the notion that discussion groups may represent an attractive resource for helping to manage clinical cases. Future research should explore in greater depth the demographics of users, specific motivations for physician use, ways to improve active participation, and the impact on clinical practice.