Family practice residency program sites on the World Wide Web

Abstract

Background and objectives: The World Wide Web is a rapidly expanding entity, and family practice residencies have begun using this technology through the development of Web sites. Our objective was to survey Web sites devoted to family practice residencies.

Methods: We sent a national survey to 451 family practice residency directors.

Results: Of 241 returned surveys, 113 residencies reported an existing Web site. Seventy-four percent of Web sites were created by faculty, but 31% also involved residents in creation. Resident recruitment was the most successful goal of Web sites; 42% of programs reported "moderate" to "very successful" results. However, most programs reported that it was too early to evaluate the goals listed in the survey.

Conclusions: Family practice residencies have an increasingly significant presence on the Web. The development, content, and goals of the sites are similar across programs regardless of creation date, but the evaluation of the success of these goals is at an early stage for most programs.