Use of email in a family practice setting: opportunities and challenges in patient- and physician-initiated communication.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Electronic mail (email) has the potential to improve communication between physicians and patients.

METHODS:
We conducted two research studies in a family practice setting:
1) a brief, anonymous patient survey of a convenience sample to determine the number of clinic patients receptive to communicating with their physician via email, and 2) a randomized, controlled pilot study to assess the feasibility of providing health education via email to family practice patients.

RESULTS:
Sixty-eight percent of patients used email, and the majority of those (80%) were interested in using email to communicate with the clinic. The majority also reported that their email address changed less frequently than their home address (65%, n = 173) or telephone number (68%, n = 181). Forty-two percent were willing to pay an out-of-pocket fee to have email access to their physicians. When evaluating email initiated by the clinic, 26% of otherwise eligible patients could not participate because they lacked email access; those people were more likely to be black and to be insured through Medicaid. Twenty-four subjects agreed to participate, but one-third failed to return the required consent form by mail. All participants who received the intervention emails said they would like to receive health education emails in the future.

CONCLUSION:
Our survey results show that patients are interested in email communication with the family practice clinic. Our feasibility study also illustrates important challenges in physician-initiated electronic communication. The 'digital divide' - decreased access to electronic technologies in lower income groups - is an ethical concern in the use of email for patient-physician communication.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Virji, Ayaz (A); Yarnall, Kimberly S H (KS); Krause, Katrina M (KM); Pollak, Kathryn I (KI); Scannell, Margaret A (MA); Gradison, Margaret (M); Østbye, Truls (T);

Affiliation: 6-Step Weight Loss Center, 13191 Starkey Rd, Suite A-3, Largo, FL 33773, USA. ayaz(-atsign-)6stepweightloss.com

Grants: D22 HP 00081-02 (Agency:PHS HHS) ; P30-CA14236-27S1 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: BMC medicine (BMC Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 4 (issue ) : pp 18

Dates: Created 2006/09/11; Completed 2006/10/17; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 16911780, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Electronic Mail - utilization
Family Practice - methods
Information Dissemination - methods
Patient Education as Topic

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

Practice tips. E-mailing patients. 30 Aug 2006
Electronic technology: a spark to revitalize primary care? 7 Jul 2003
E-mail guidelines. 29 Nov 2006
[Telemedicine and general practice--future or present. Telemedicine, a way to strengthen the gatekeeper role?] 2 Nov 2002
Ethical guidelines for use of electronic mail between patients and physicians. 30 Dec 2002
PET_Mail: a low-key, high-tech PET community. 29 Jun 2003
Family physicians' information seeking behaviors: a survey comparison with other specialties. 20 Mar 2005
Use of the Internet and e-mail for medical advice and information by parents of a university pediatric faculty practice. 29 Jun 2003
The emerging role of online communication between patients and their providers. 30 Aug 2004
Email consultations in health care: 2--acceptability and safe application. 19 Aug 2004

See 100+ related articles.