Dr. Roberto Braga de Carvalho Vianna, Dr. Thomaz Kauark Chianca and Dr. Claudio Pinheiro Fernandes CEDROS Network, Dental School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Dr. Bengt Sundström
University of Lund, Malmöe, Sweden
The large growth of our present knowledge of health care and promotion, based on researches related to oral health, point to an urgent need to develop a fast, efficient, low cost communication matrix. Oral disease occurrence as well as efforts carried out to promote oral health are always locally influenced by cultural, socio-economical, environmental factors. However, there's a great amount of information and basic knowledge that can - sometimes it is and it should increasingly be - applied together with the local means and scope to fight oral problems. Amongst other factors, this kind of evaluation seems to be in the root of many suggestions turned to the establishment of a global curriculum in oral health education.
The developments occurred in the area of information technology - related to database network systems based on open protocols - are rapidly supplying a variety of options that must be applied in order to gather local experiences, individuals and struggles for the research, education and service rendering in dentistry. CC-ODONT is a project which aims exactly that: the establishment of an internationally recognized forum which promotes the fast exchange and discussion of subjects related to oral health, and that gathers basic knowledge generated through advancements in the field of experimental research and professional experience.
This conceptual basis for the CC-ODONT have been approached and structured collectively by specialists of the Coordination of Integrated Programs of Research and Development (COPIED) of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in Brazil, of the University Center for Interactive Videos (UCIV) of the University of Lund, in Sweden and of the Oral Health Unity (OHU) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. On November 1st, 1993, professionals linked to these institutions have devised a proposal for the gradual implementation of a computerized communication network to connect oral health centers. At first, the network has the objective to reach 32 Collaborating Centers in Oral Health assigned by WHO. However, it is important to stress that the objective of CC-ODONT project is to invite any center working in the enhancement of appropriate, accessible measures to oral health. Collaborating centers may be individuals, work groups and/or teaching units within voluntary organizations such as OFEDO/UDUAL, AADS, ADEE or from other research and/or service delivery institutions, whether governmental or private.
The objectives of CC-ODONT project are coupled:
1. To develop an Electronic Forum open to discuss oral health related subjects. Here, individual participants will exchange experiences and information through electronic mail.
2. To develop knowledge and the necessary means to the creation of a Local Database Bank of subjects related to oral health to provide participants with referral knowledge that can be shared through a computerized network.
Hopefully, through this exchange within this coupled proposal, collaborating centers will promote what is emergent and throw the seeds to a global electronic curriculum on oral health.
CC-ODONT Electronic Forum
As the first mark of our work, a discussion list named CC-ODONT was opened on December 22, 1993. Technically speaking, this list is kept in a Sun Sparc Station IPX at the Electronic Computing Nucleus (NCE) of the UFRJ, available through Internet Network. In a less technical language, a discussion list is an automatic mailing system that distributes messages to the electronic addresses of the participants who showed interest to take part in the exchange of information by subscribing to the list.
Operationally, one may say that a list like that has two parts. One of the parts is the computer program which is, in our case, called List Processor and operates in an UNIX environment. This software responds to commands sent by a host computer (NCE's computer) by remote users and, thus, automatically makes operations such as: applications, information on participants list, etc., and it distributes messages, which are the list mail. The other part are the contents of the computing process: files - which are sent to the discussion list by the active participants.
The minimum technical requirements to take part in this list or any other list alike is to have access to the advantages of electronic mail, that is, a computer (PC, Macintosh or UNIX) - equipped with compatible email software - connected to a local electronic address and a modem or digital board of direct communication - again with the appropriate software - to connect the local computer to the list's host computer.
An Invitation
Subscriptions to CC-ODONT discussion list are welcome. They are free of charge and discussions on all questions and subjects related to oral health are encouraged. These questions can approach education, database development, dental informatics, discussions on research methods, summaries of clinical and basic research results, epidemiological data, clinical experience, case reports, etc. As part of the basic philosophy of the project, the list should include questions related to the development of a general awareness of abilities and possibilities, and also restrictions and limitations, inherent to the use of information technology in the context suggested.
Subscriptions to the list are non-confidential. All mail sent to the list will be filed and shortly we will be working to establish specific, effective, efficient advantages to database search. There won't be any mediation to the contents of the messages sent to CC-ODONT list, thus guaranteeing - and eventually dealing with the difficulties - free access and distribution to all users. The official language of the list is English.
Subscriptions
Please send message to the host computer software to the following address:
LISTPROC@GRUMARI.NCE.UFRJ.BR
with the following message:
subscribe CC-ODONT<your name>
(deleting the < > symbols)
You will receive rapidly your subscription confirmation together with basic technical information. If you have questions and messages related to the subject of the list, you may send your first Email to the address below, which will receive all following messages:
CC-ODONT@GRUMARI.NCE.UFRJ.BR
Mailing address:
CEDROS Network, Executive Secretariat
RJ - Brazil (see page 20)