Related Experiment Videos
Laparoscopy and the internet. A surgeon survey
A Gandsas1, K Draper, E Chekan
1Duke - US Surgical Endosurgery Center, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3638, Room 3456, Durham, NC 27710, USA. gandsas@laparoscopy.com
Surgical Endoscopy
|July 10, 2001
Summary
The Internet is a valuable tool for surgeons to access medical information and new technologies. However, survey results may not represent all surgeons due to a tech-savvy participant bias.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Surgical Education Technology
Background:
- The Internet has emerged as a significant platform for medical information exchange.
- Surgeons increasingly utilize online resources for professional development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the attitudes and practices of surgeons concerning Internet utilization for medical information.
- To assess the role of the Internet in surgical education and practice.
Main Methods:
- A 13-item questionnaire was distributed online via the World Wide Web and email.
- Data was collected from 459 surgeons over a two-month period.
Main Results:
- Respondents primarily used the Internet for expanding general surgery knowledge, learning about surgical technologies, and accessing Medline.
- A majority favored robotic-assisted surgery and telementoring, with strong interest in video streaming for surgical education.
- Participants were predominantly male, aged 31-50, accessing the Internet from home.
Conclusions:
- The Internet serves as an effective real-time survey tool for evaluating the impact of web technologies on surgery.
- Findings indicate a potential bias as participants were already familiar with internet and computer technology, possibly not reflecting the broader surgical community.