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General practitioners and the Internet: modelling a 'virtual community'

C Roberts¹, N Fox

¹Community Sciences Centre, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK.

Family Practice

|August 7, 1998

Summary

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This study shows that online discussion groups can support professional development for General Practitioners (GPs). A core group of active participants and facilitated discussions are key to a successful virtual classroom.

Area of Science:

Medical Informatics
Online Learning
Professional Development

Background:

Electronic discussion lists facilitate communication and information sharing among General Practitioners (GPs).
These virtual forums hold potential for formal learning and professional development.
Research is needed to understand how discussion lists support professional growth.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the utilization of the Internet-based discussion group gp-uk by GPs and their colleagues.
To understand the dynamics of online collaboration in a medical context.

Main Methods:

A qualitative study was conducted.
Analysis of electronic text generated by GPs and colleagues on an academic medical discussion group.

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Main Results:

The gp-uk list functions as a collaborative medium with audience participation.
Evidence supports a 'critical mass' model where a small number of members actively contribute.
Limited support was found for a 'discretionary database' model for formal factual information sharing.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest a 'virtual classroom' model for computer-mediated learning and professional development.
A critical mass of participants is essential for effectiveness.
Facilitation of discussions and provision of supporting resources (e.g., websites) are recommended.