Objective To determine the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure available to, and IT skills of, Design Open prospective study.Setting NHS Hospitals in the South West Deanery.Methods l b o separate surveys. Firstly, the computer equipment available to trainees was determined at each hospital in the deanery on site using a software programme. Secondly, IT skills of a sample of 22 specialist registrars were assessed using a checklist at a series of four workshops.
Main outcome measuresComputers with sufficient specification to use CD-ROMs, to access the Internet, and to support data-, audio-and video-conferencing. The number of trainees with IT skills to use a computer-aided learning package and the Internet.Results Sixty-six percent of trainees have access to a computer with a CD-ROM drive. Sixty-six percent also have access to the Internet at their place of work. Thirteen percent have access to data-conferencing but there were no computers in the Deanery able to support audio-or video-conferencing. lbenty-five percent of trainees have no IT skills and require basic training in the use of computers. Thirty-six percent of our sample would require training to be able to use computer-based tutorials programs. Seventyseven percent of trainees require training to be able to use the Internet without assistance.Conclusion A significant minority of trainees do not have access to computers with sufficient specification to run basic tutorial programmes or access the Internet. Similarly, a large minority of trainees do not even have a basic knowledge of computer technology and IT training is required for the majority of trainees for them to reap the potential benefits which computer-based tutorials systems and the Internet can give.obstetric specialist registrars across the South West Deanery.