Is the internet an integral part of general practice in Australia?

Computerisation has seen significant changes in information management and procedures in General Practice. Whilst the majority of changes to date, have been apparent in administration, the clinical aspect of primary care is now increasingly taking advantage of the computer and significantly, the Internet. The professional obligation to maintain currency in medical developments has provided an opportunity to use the Internet as a low cost method to access a wide range of medical research information worldwide. Furthermore traditional methods of communication within the medical community have the potential to be transformed by the availability and use of electronic communication techniques such as email. The incorporation of these new technologies in clinical practice is not without its challenges, and includes quality, timeliness, information management and attitudes to Internet based information. This paper presents the results of a preliminary study of GP's undertaken in Western Australia analysing the usage of, and attitude to, the Internet in clinical practice.