The future of medical education on the Internet

There has been a rapid growth in the development of large repositories of medical information and knowledge on the Internet. The Internet provides a new vehicle to disseminate timely information to assist in medical education. For the user, however it is often difficult to obtain concise information or to verify the accuracy of that information. Advancements in technology and the development of interactive web browsers will improve the efficiency and accuracy of information, retrieval, and education. These advances will result from improvements made to the software interface and network infrastructure. Increases in data transmission rates, and more powerful computer systems will allow for extended use of graphical, video, and audio media on browsers. Many of the websites and databases will become more interactive. New program modules are already available to automatically "push" information on to the user's computer. Additionally, rising concern about the misinformation in many databases will drive professional organizations and companies to find methods to validate their information. Advances in computer technology will result in the development of new methods and aids in medical education. Virtual educational environments, simulations, and medical home visitations using telemedicine will add to the tools available to educators at universities and medical schools. Course instruction on the Internet already has been started at many universities and will continue to expand. Educational software programs will be designed to interact with the student, asking questions, and determining courses of action. Even with all the advances in technology and information dissemination methods, direct interaction with patients will continue to be essential to complete a medical student's educational requirement. Additional research will be required to determine if computer-based education is an effective alternative to classroom instruction and if these educational strategies can modify behavioral attitudes.