Using the Web to aid biochemists and microbiologists: an example of computer-based learning using PCR as an example.

Full Abstract

The aim of this study was two-fold:
to make available to the medical community a fast, efficient tool for troubleshooting PCR problems, and to demonstrate that hypermedia allow one to approach this kind of problem in a new, more useful way. The Web provides access to an enormous amount of information in the medical area, and in particular enables troubleshooting of new techniques in the medical laboratory. Currently it is possible to find textual information but it is not always easy to find hypermedia information. In many cases authors change only the means of dissemination of a book or paper to the Web, but do not adapt the information to the features of this new medium. The prototype of our hypermedia application was developed using Director and Flash programs (Macromedia), the application was developed from a decision tree built as a result of information compiled from expert PCR users and the existing literature. It was implemented on a website using Dreamweaver (Macromedia). The usefulness and possibilities of this application have been tested with physicians, medical laboratory technicians, and health science students, and have been proven to be more effective than traditional methods, both in education processes and in helping researchers and medical laboratory technicians in their daily work. The advance and popularization of the Internet in the medical profession requires information on the Web to adapt to the advantages offered by hypermedia. This new step must be taken, and the Web must offer medical users not only a different medium of information distribution but also a new way of handling and obtaining information.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Oliver, J (J); Conde, P (P); Pisano, E (E); Rodríguez-Cuenca, S (S); Roca, P (P);

Affiliation: Laboratori de Biologia Molecular, Nutrició i Biotecnologia, Departament de Biología Fonamental i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Cra Valldemossa Km 7.5. E-07071 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Medical informatics and the Internet in medicine (Med Inform Internet Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jun; vol 27 (issue 2) : pp 99-109

Dates: Created 2002/12/31; Completed 2003/03/24; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12507269, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.