E-mail access and improved communication between patient and surgeon.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To examine the effectiveness of e-mail communication between surgeon and patient prior to elective surgery.

DESIGN:
Prospective randomized study.

SETTING:
Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS:
One hundred consecutive patients presenting for consultation prior to undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery.

INTERVENTION:
All were randomized to either receiving an information sheet promoting e-mail communication as the preferred method of communication (group E) or a standard information sheet (group S).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
(1) Use of communication with the surgeon outside of the booked preoperative and postoperative consultation and (2) satisfaction questionnaire.

RESULTS:
Overall, 26 of 100 patients (26%) initiated additional perioperative communication with the surgeon, 19 of 50 (38%) in group E and 7 of 50 (14%) in group S (P < .001). Of those who initiated communication, 22 of 26 (84%) did so by e-mail; 3 (12%), by fax; and 1 (4%), by telephone. For patients using e-mail, 18 of 22 (81%) were in group E and 4 of 22 (18%), in group S (P < .02). Overall, 34 e-mails were sent by 22 patients in the study group. Most e-mails sent focused on only 1 issue; however, some patients raised multiple issues, with the most being 4 issues in a single e-mail. There were no differences in any of the outcome measures in relation to patient satisfaction with communication.

CONCLUSION:
Despite concerns about potential medicolegal issues and other disadvantages, providing patients undergoing elective surgery with e-mail access to their surgeon results in improved levels of communication without any demonstrated impairment of satisfaction with outcomes.

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Author information

Author/s: Stalberg, Peter (P); Yeh, Michael (M); Ketteridge, Geraldine (G); Delbridge, Hilary (H); Delbridge, Leigh (L);

Affiliation: FRACS, Department of Endocrine and Oncology Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal: Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (Arch Surg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 143 (issue 2) : pp 164-8; discussion 168-9

Dates: Created 2008/02/19; Completed 2008/03/12;

PMID: 18283141, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Communication
Electronic Mail - statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged

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