Australian GP registrars’ use of e-resources

Traditional face-to-face learning opportunities for Australian GP registrars are complemented by the use of e-resources. The current study aimed to investigate GP trainees' use of e-resources and their preferences for sourcing clinical information to inform the prospective direction and design of e-resources for the GP education and training sector. One-hundred and nineteen registrars completed a custom online survey measuring the type and frequency of use of e-resources, and preferences for their design and content. Results indicated that for the majority of registrars e-resources were the first preference for obtaining clinical information (77.3%). The most frequently used e-resources included non-medical search engines, medical journals and prescribing software. Factors relevant to registrars' selection and use of e-resources included the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information. It is concluded that the use of e-resources provides a valuable supplement to registrars' learning and teaching. However, issues of quality and consistency raise some concerns regarding the use of e-resources for obtaining clinical information.