Use of Internet resources by German medical professionals

• Published in: Bulletin of the Medical Library Association Vol. 86; no. 4; pp. 528 - 533
• Main Author: OBST, O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL Medical Library Association 01.10.1998
• Subjects: Computer Communication Networks; Computer User Training; Data Collection; Doctors; Exact sciences and technology; Follow-Up Studies; Germany; Health information services; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Internet; Librarians; Library and information science. General aspects; Physicians; Sciences and techniques of general use; Students; Students, Medical; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Use; Use and user studies. Information needs; User surveys; Europe; Germany; United States; Medicine; Survey; Biomedical information; Health; Internet resource; User study
• ISSN: 0025-7338

A survey of German medical professionals, students, and librarians was performed in 1995 to examine how they used the Internet. The great majority used e-mail, the Web, and Internet sources based in the United States. Respondents claimed various advantages from Internet use. There was a clearly expressed need for Internet courses as well as evaluation and presentation of Internet sources. A majority of respondents wanted the librarians to provide Internet related services. A follow-up survey in 1996 suggested a trend towards a more realistic view among medical Internet users that incorporated expected benefits and advantages from the Internet.