Multimedia and physiology: a new way to ensure the quality of medical education and medical knowledge.

Background: since the eighties and the existence of virtual campuses, the value of computers in distance education has been acknowledged. The development of information and communication technologies is driving at discriminating distance education and on-line education.

Purpose: the aim of the "Campus Numérique de Physiologie" is not to reproduce an on-line copy of classical textbooks but to put at students' and physicians' disposal the huge possibilities of multimedia resources for an active and easier understanding of complex physiopathological phenomena.

Methods: the on-line course materials were created using both original IBC-made and registered trade-mark software tools. Multiscale modelling and corresponding knowledge bases were implemented by mathematicians, biologists and software engineers from Rennes. The website, which is accessible through a server of the French Virtual Medical University, was developed in the language HTML/PHP connected to a MySQL database.

Results: the content managing system is consistent with classical home page facilities and multicriteria browser. Interactive resources are freely available for the site's users. Two- and three-dimensional simulations born out of mathematical qualitative and quantitative models at the molecular, cellular or organic level keep students active with regards to fundamental mechanisms by interactively manipulating the simulation environment.

Conclusion: authors comment the already available course materials which should stimulate the creation of new documents following a validation by a qualified commission of the "Société de Physiologie". Providing evaluation tests, teachers anticipate that the increasing content of this virtual campus will allow users to gain a complete understanding and an integrative view of many physiopathological mechanisms.