ORIGINAL ARTICLES AAEM Ann Agric Environ Med 2006, 13, 93–98 Received: 5 January 2006 Accepted: 30 April 2006 CASE-BASED E-LEARNING IN OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE – THE NETWORM PROJECT IN GERMANY Katja Radon 1 , Stefanie Kolb 1 , Jörg Reichert 1 , Thomas Baumeister 2 , Reinhard Fuchs 1 , Inga Hege 3 , Georg Praml 1 , Martin Fischer 3 , Dennis Nowak 1 1 Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany 2 Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany 3 Medical Clinic, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany Radon K, Kolb S, Reichert J, Baumeister T, Fuchs R, Hege I, Praml G, Fischer M, Nowak D: Case-based e-learning in occupational medicine – the NetWoRM project in Germany. Ann Agric Environ Med 2006, 13, 93–98. Abstract: The aim of the NetWoRM Project is the development, evaluation and implementation of a case-based e-learning tool for occupational medicine to increase the knowledge in clinical aspects of occupational medicine. To date, 19 e-learning cases have been developed. Cases were validated by 2 experts and user evaluated. Results of the user evaluation at 3 German Medical Schools are presented. Of 557 medical students registered for the online course 377 answered the online evaluation form (68%). Depending on the case, the median time spent on a case ranged from 25–43 minutes. Students enjoyed working with the cases and asked to replace more seminars by case-based e-learning. The level of knowledge required to work on the cases was rated high. This was supported by the fact that on median only 47–71% of the questions were answered correctly. Cases focusing on occupational health problems such as needle stick injuries were rated highest with respect to fun, importance for future career and the overall score. Students enjoy working on e-learning cases as an add-on to traditional teaching. Because of the high international interest the NetWoRM project is currently shared on an international base. Address for correspondence: PD Dr. Katja Radon, MSc, Unit for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & Net Teaching, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1; 80336 Munich, Germany. E-mail: katja.radon@med.uni-muenchen.de Key words: medical students, e-learning, occupational training, prevention, international collaboration. INTRODUCTION A survey from the United Kingdom has shown that for people working in the last 12 months the annual prevalence of diseases caused or made worse by work is about 4.6% [4]. Therefore, occupational influences have to be considered as causes for many diseases like asthma, carcinomas, musculoskeletal diseases, and intoxications throughout Europe. As a result, occupational factors have to be taken into account by physicians in many disci- plines. In order to prevent and recognize occupational diseases, medical students should learn about the potentially causal relationship between profession and diseases as well as the basic legal aspects of occupational medicine (OM). Therefore, OM is a compulsory subject in the medical curriculum in many countries. In a recent review Littlewood et al. have shown that early practical experience helps medical students to learn