Q J Med 2003; 96: 81-82
© 2003 Association of Physicians
Correspondence |
Stroke website and world stroke mailing list
Department of Neurosurgery, Newcastle General Hospital Newcastle upon Tyne e-mail: Biodun-ogungbo{at}supanet.com
Sir,
The incidence of non-communicable diseases is increasing in many developing countries, and global efforts to tackle the problem are required. Specifically, there is a significant lack of current information regarding the epidemiology, prevention, treatment and management of stroke in many developing countries. The availability of the internet in many communities makes e-mail and web communications an attractive and cheap method of sharing valuable stroke information across continents. We wish to report the publication of a website on stroke (http://www.stroke-information.net), dedicated to the improvement of medical information and fostering of stroke information in developed and developing countries. Information is of critical importance, and we hope this will be the beginning of concerted efforts to improve information delivery and sensitization of the medical fraternity towards stroke.
We have constructed the stroke website to incorporate the World-Stroke Mailing List (World-stroke{at}jiscmail.ac.uk). The site includes basic information, case reports and images related to stroke. Information is focussed specifically on stroke subtypes: ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haematoma and subarachnoid haemorrhage. Information is provided by comprehensive review of published papers, stroke guidelines and essays on ‘How I do it’ by experts. There are links to all major stroke journals, stroke associations, support groups and businesses.
Our aim is to have collaboration, cooperation and contributions of 1000 doctors, nurses and members of allied professions to the pages by December 2003. The mailing list is available for free registration, and it is envisaged that it will facilitate exchanges of medical information among list members.
This site is being developed by doctors in response to the lack of information for physicians and researchers in some countries. It is hoped that the site will facilitate cooperation in joint research projects and bilateral education. We hope to stimulate mutually beneficial associations among stroke physicians in different parts of the world, and improve access to research papers in developing countries. It is envisaged that mirror sites will be established that are customized for each local area, and in different languages for wider appeal. It is also our intention to collect the pages in a CD-ROM for wider distribution to medical students in some countries.
We would like to encourage doctors to visit the site and contribute to our collective education.
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