The enhancement of audience participation in telemedicine education by the use of electronic voting.

The rotation of trainee registrars in obstetrics and gynaecology to peripheral centres in South Australia was introduced for the first time in January 1998. A pilot study of the use of telemedicine to maintain the trainees' involvement in the established weekly training sessions conducted at the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) was also commenced at the same time. Sessions were problem based and required the trainees to be actively involved throughout. An electronic voting system (EVS) was used by the WCH audience, with the results of all responses being seen at the peripheral centres. Initial evaluation of the EVS as an educational tool was sufficiently positive to justify further studies of its use in this environment. The availability of voting units at the peripheral sites, used in conjunction with the main centre, will provide an exciting opportunity for further research.