A comparison of internet usage between two residency programs in the United Kingdom and the United States

Abstract

Study Objective: To survey the pattern of use and availability of the Internet among anesthesia residents. Design: Survey questionnaire. Setting: University hospital. Measurements: A postal questionnaire of Internet attitudes and usage was sent to trainees in Anesthesiology in two training programs: the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (UNM) and the North West Regional Health Authority, Manchester, UK (NWR). A repeat questionnaire was sent to nonresponders after 4 weeks. Telephone interviews were conducted with hospital administration to determine availability and cost of the Internet. Main Results: Response rates were 67% (82/122) from the NWR and 83% (25/31) from UNM. Compared with NWR, residents at UNM used the Internet longer for general (median 3 vs . 2 yrs; p < 0.001) and medical (median 2 vs . 1.2 yrs; p < 0.001) purposes. All (31/31) UNM trainees and 73% (89/122) of NWR trainees had Internet access. More NWR trainees who had Internet access at work (60/61; 98%) used it for medically related purposes than those without work access (17/21, 81%; p < 0.001). More UNM trainees (19/25; 76%) accessed web sites other than those of official national organizations than did NWR trainees (40/82, 49%; p = 0.046). Approximately 75% of all trainees access web sites of the Association of Anesthetists and Royal College of Anesthetists (in the NWR) the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and American Board of Anesthesiology (in UNM) and online journals. The most popular sites were GASNET (Global Anesthesiology Server Network; NWR) and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists; UNM). Both UNM and NWR trainees perceived the Internet as supplying useful and accurate information. Conclusions: If the reported survey results are representative of Internet use among anesthesia residents in the United States and UK, Internet access at work is associated with greater Internet use for medical purposes, perhaps in part because residents perceive it to be a convenient and accurate resource.