Content analysis of medical internet and multimedia resources

Due to the increasing amount of medical information that is exclusively ava ilable on the internet or on multimedia products there is a need for an in- depth analysis of content. So far search engines and medical libraries arra nge digital medical resources by means of classification systems, controlle d vocabulary or metadata. Advantages and shortcomings of this approach are discussed. New media in medicine require a new set of instruments for the a nalysis and description of content and function to meet the information nee ds of doctors and patients. Consequences and recommendations to improve the usability of medical internet and multimedia resources by means of coopera tion, creation of centres of competence and development of new tools for co ntent analysis are discussed.