American ophthalmology graduate medical education and the web: Current state of internet resource utilization

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence and accessibility of ophthalmology graduate medical education (GME) programs on the internet and the degree to which web-based resources are currently being utilized by American Ophthalmology training programs. DESIGN: Prospective sampling of internet postings of ophthalmology GME programs. METHODS: Ophthalmology residency programs listed in the American Medical Association Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) online website (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997. html) were evaluated. Departmental websites were accessed either directly from the FREIDA website or from one of eight search engines or four metacrawlers utilized in the study. Each site was evaluated for the presence, extent, and type of postings in the following categories: residency, medical student resources, faculty, patient care, video utilization, and links. RESULTS: Departments with websites numbered 102 (83%). Specific posting rates were residency 84%; medical student resource 12%; faculty 72%; patient care 69%; video 2%; links 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Most departments have websites, but only a small number have postings in all categories.