The University Linked Practices computer network project in East London and Essex: a qualitative evaluation

Abstract

Undergraduate medical education is moving away from its traditional hospital setting into the community. Alongside this, there is a growing need to prepare medical students for workplaces that rely on information technology. The distribution of students to locations throughout the community presents major challenges regarding access to facilities usually found in medical schools. The University Linked Practices computer network was established to provide general practice teaching sites in east London and Essex with computer resources at least equivalent to those available centrally. This paper reports qualitative data from structured interviews with network users. Although practices already made extensive use of computers, levels of relevant training and experience among practice team members and students were minimal. Time constraints made progress difficult, but the use of the network for literature searching was already becoming established. Appropriate use in teaching should be integrated with new curricula as they develop, and protected time made available.