Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The aim of our current work is to establish an internet-based handbook of clinical recommendations in Gynaecological Endocrinology (GE). The underlying vision is to provide up-to-date medical knowledge in GE based on the best available evidence. The project is under the aegis of the German Society of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine (DGGEF). Actually 2 chapters "Laboranalytik (LA)" (Geisth vel, F.), and "Funktionelle Ovarielle Hyperandrogen mie (FOHA)" (Geisth vel, F., Schulze E.) have been completed yet and are presented exemplary in Germany by F. Geitshoevel and D.M. Spinner.
Methods: The programming language used for publication of the guidelines in GE on the Internet is the Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML). The major construct of the online publication consists of an overlaying homepage linked with the chapters. All chapters following an homogenous layout consisting in a left-bound browsing structure (BS) guiding through the desired chapters and a right-bound main-reading frame. Each chapter is subdivided in highly interlinked levels. The BS of "LA" comprehends most important terms in GE arranged alphabetically. Major terms are linked with level A recommending for each term those laboratory parameters which should be chosen for diagnosis. The BS and level A are hyperlinked with level B (differential diagnosis) and level D (tests). In FOHA, the BS uses the classical terms aetiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy which are subdivided in further subterms hyperlinked with level A. Level A is presented as continuing text hyperlinked with both level B (instruction level: tables, graphics, cases, drugs) and level C (references). All chapters show also cross- and inter-chapter-linkage structures. An important present and future task will be the screening and implementation of the whole available clinical evidence. The search for the best available evidence will be based on the methods of evidence - based medicine (EBM). The used literature-database for literature screening is Medline from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the used source - database for identifying systematically proofed clinical evidence is the Cochrane Library, a product of the Cochrane Collaboration.
Results: In the BS of chapter LA, actually 201 terms are selected, 66 different laboratory parameters are applied in level A; each term used is hyperlinked with level B for differential diagnosis; 7 briefly described tests are listed in level C. In total, around 2100 hyperlinks are employed in chapter LA; ideas of 7 commentators specialised in GE are taken in consideration. Chapter FOHA consists of 34 text pages in level A, of 29 tables, 53 graphics and 9 descriptions of drugs in level B, as well as of 350 references in level C. The 3 levels are intensively interlinked by around 23.000 hyperlinks; 2 commentators have co-worked on this chapter.
Conclusion: The online presentation of the 2 chapters published yet gives first insights into the idea of the entire project that is planed to be completed at 2005. As yet, 12 further chapters in GE prepared by German authors, leading in the field of GE, are almost completed as print manuscripts and need to be translated into the HTLM code. The online publication of guidelines have the invaluable advantage of direct stand-by applicability including a comprehensive index and an intensive hyperlink system, of continuous updating and of world wide dissemination. GE is represented as that what it is: a complex interlinked biological network. The vision of providing direct online access to an evidence-based, up-to-date knowledge base and discussion forum in GE to everyone interested in this field might be a strong step forward in GE. An English version of this project may open an international (e.g. European) discussion platform for guidelines development in GE which might be under the constant control by an international board of experts.
Methods: The programming language used for publication of the guidelines in GE on the Internet is the Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML). The major construct of the online publication consists of an overlaying homepage linked with the chapters. All chapters following an homogenous layout consisting in a left-bound browsing structure (BS) guiding through the desired chapters and a right-bound main-reading frame. Each chapter is subdivided in highly interlinked levels. The BS of "LA" comprehends most important terms in GE arranged alphabetically. Major terms are linked with level A recommending for each term those laboratory parameters which should be chosen for diagnosis. The BS and level A are hyperlinked with level B (differential diagnosis) and level D (tests). In FOHA, the BS uses the classical terms aetiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy which are subdivided in further subterms hyperlinked with level A. Level A is presented as continuing text hyperlinked with both level B (instruction level: tables, graphics, cases, drugs) and level C (references). All chapters show also cross- and inter-chapter-linkage structures. An important present and future task will be the screening and implementation of the whole available clinical evidence. The search for the best available evidence will be based on the methods of evidence - based medicine (EBM). The used literature-database for literature screening is Medline from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the used source - database for identifying systematically proofed clinical evidence is the Cochrane Library, a product of the Cochrane Collaboration.
Results: In the BS of chapter LA, actually 201 terms are selected, 66 different laboratory parameters are applied in level A; each term used is hyperlinked with level B for differential diagnosis; 7 briefly described tests are listed in level C. In total, around 2100 hyperlinks are employed in chapter LA; ideas of 7 commentators specialised in GE are taken in consideration. Chapter FOHA consists of 34 text pages in level A, of 29 tables, 53 graphics and 9 descriptions of drugs in level B, as well as of 350 references in level C. The 3 levels are intensively interlinked by around 23.000 hyperlinks; 2 commentators have co-worked on this chapter.
Conclusion: The online presentation of the 2 chapters published yet gives first insights into the idea of the entire project that is planed to be completed at 2005. As yet, 12 further chapters in GE prepared by German authors, leading in the field of GE, are almost completed as print manuscripts and need to be translated into the HTLM code. The online publication of guidelines have the invaluable advantage of direct stand-by applicability including a comprehensive index and an intensive hyperlink system, of continuous updating and of world wide dissemination. GE is represented as that what it is: a complex interlinked biological network. The vision of providing direct online access to an evidence-based, up-to-date knowledge base and discussion forum in GE to everyone interested in this field might be a strong step forward in GE. An English version of this project may open an international (e.g. European) discussion platform for guidelines development in GE which might be under the constant control by an international board of experts.