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Abstract
Health care workers (HCW) rely on Internet-based medical resources to obtain current evidence-based clinical guidelines. While such resources are being used with increasing frequency in developed countries, they have not been broadly employed in resource-limited settings (RLS). To investigate the feasibility and the types of medical content used by HCW in RLS, we studied one Internet-based medical resource used in the United States, (UpToDate©) in four hospitals in Africa. Health care workers were trained on how to use this resource and surveyed over a six month study period. Automated topic tracking found that HCW searched a variety of medical topics. About 78% of HCW reported daily or weekly use of the Internet-based medical resource and 70% felt the tool was very useful for teaching. All users report the tool increased their clinical knowledge. This descriptive study suggests that Internet-based medical information resources are feasible in RLS and are accessed for a broad variety of medical topics. Supplemental content providing guidance when minimal diagnostic and therapeutic options exist could increase its relevance in RLS. With increased availability, Internet-based medical information could enhance current global health care initiatives to improve providers' knowledge, clinical practice and potentially patient outcomes.
Acknowledgements
Clinical site leaders including Dr Jon Crocker, Neno District Hospital, Dr Corrado Cancedda, Rwinkwavu District Hospital and Dr Aba Ewuzi and Dr Henry Sunpath, McCord Hospital; Dr Rebecca Weintraub, Global Health Delivery; Dr Peter Bonis, Dr Barbara McGovern, Dr Ellie Baron and Gingle Lee, UpToDate; Dr Joel Katz and Dr Howard Hiatt, Brigham and Women's Hospital Global Health Equity Residency Program.