[Improving medical education in psychosocial disciplines by multimedia tools]

The use of multimedia tools is gaining increasing importance in medical education. These tools provide adequate techniques and possibilities for education within all medical including the psychosocial disciplines. Until now, a lack of multimedia learning programs and websites providing material related to psychosocial issues has to be considered in Germany. On the other hand, a new Medical Licensure Act (Approbationsordnung fuer Aerzte) will have a dramatic impact on medical education and teaching. On this basis there is a broad need for multimedialearning-environments, covering parts of the changes demanded by the new educational standards. Considering the lack of available multimedia learning programs and the need for those tools due to the medical education reform in Germany, the rapid development, validation and curricular implementation of those programs is required. This should be a goal of high priority, especially for the teaching of issues related to medical psychology, medical sociology, and psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy.