Gilas T, Schein M, Frykberg E
Department of Surgery, Toronto East General Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario.
Arch Surg. 1998 Oct;133(10):1126-30. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.133.10.1126.
Internet discussion lists, also known as mailing lists, are subject-specific groups that are participated in and distributed by e-mail. Medical mailing lists have not been warmly received by the peer-reviewed medical literature.
To demonstrate the potential value of medical discussion lists on the Internet through a description of Surginet, the largest such mailing list dealing with general surgery, and a survey of its participants. Our hypothesis is that Internet discussion lists fill a unique niche in dissemination of medical information.
A retrospective review of the electronic activities of one medical mailing list, and an e-mail questionnaire survey of its membership's demographics and practice patterns.
Four hundred eighty-nine subscribers to Surginet from 46 countries.
Electronic activity of the list, subscribers' demographics, and subscribers' perceptions concerning the list's activities and its value.
Surginet currently has 489 subscribers from 46 countries. During 1997 an average of 12.5 messages per day and 375 per month were posted, all dealing with topics in general surgery. Completed questionnaires were received from 190 subscribers (39%), of which 93% are men and 73% are between the ages of 30 and 50 years practicing in 38 countries; 84% are practicing surgeons and 13% are surgical residents. Most (59%) are "passive" members who read, but do not actively participate in, the discussions. Improving knowledge base, interaction with other surgeons, and obtaining consults were the most common reasons given for list subscription.
Groups such as Surginet fill a niche involving the free exchange of ideas, methods, and attitudes relevant to the current practice of general surgery, which is different from the way medical information is disseminated by published literature and organized medical meetings. There is a perception among list subscribers that this is a valuable and useful modality for continuing education.
互联网讨论列表，也称为邮件列表，是由电子邮件参与和分发的特定主题群组。医学邮件列表尚未受到同行评审医学文献的热烈欢迎。
通过描述Surginet（最大的处理普通外科的此类邮件列表）及其参与者的调查，展示互联网医学讨论列表的潜在价值。我们的假设是互联网讨论列表在医学信息传播中占据独特的位置。
对一个医学邮件列表的电子活动进行回顾性审查，并对其成员的人口统计学和实践模式进行电子邮件问卷调查。
来自46个国家的489名Surginet订阅者。
列表的电子活动、订阅者的人口统计学以及订阅者对列表活动及其价值的看法。
Surginet目前有来自46个国家的489名订阅者。1997年期间，平均每天发布12.5条消息，每月发布375条消息，所有消息均涉及普通外科主题。收到了190名订阅者（39%）填写完整的问卷，其中93%为男性，73%年龄在30至50岁之间，在38个国家执业；84%是执业外科医生，13%是外科住院医师。大多数（59%）是“被动”成员，他们阅读但不积极参与讨论。订阅列表的最常见原因是提高知识库、与其他外科医生互动以及获得咨询。
像Surginet这样的群组填补了一个涉及与普通外科当前实践相关的思想、方法和态度自由交流的空白，这与已发表文献和有组织的医学会议传播医学信息的方式不同。列表订阅者认为这是一种有价值且有用的继续教育方式。
