Analysis of Urology Homepage Using the Internet / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In this era of the Internet, many university hospitals are making efforts to maximize the benefits of a good homepage which facilitates the sharing and distributing of medical information. By classifying and analyzing different urology homepage, this paper aims to identify the problems and suggest the direction for improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the search sites of Yahoo, Lycos, and Daum, some 111 homepage yielded by the keyword search "urology" were classified along the categories of location, sort (individual vs assembled), and the field of specialty. The one with the best quality was analyzed in depth. RESULTS: According to the location, Seoul (45) and Pusan (8) took up 47.7% of the total. There were more homepage devoted to andrologic field than others, typically offering online counselling service. As for the sort, there were more individual homepage (83) than assembled ones (28). The nearest to perfect homepage, upon close analysis, turned out to be too complex for the general user to gain easy access to the information, although its content, design, management, and links were excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all homepage provide online counselling service, but there was a considerable disparity in the answers to questions. A guideline from the professional body would be necessary. Moreover, to prevent possible violation of the intellectual property laws, it would be best for the homepage of professional bodies to be paid sites or at least membership sites. Those managing these homepage should do their best to catch up and cope with high-tech Internet medical services by being more familiar with Internet-related technology.