Doctors Using E-mail with Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Patt Madhavi R, Houston Thomas K, Jenckes Mollie W, Sands Daniel Z, Ford Daniel E
Primary Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Hypothesis
To survey physicians currently using e-mail with their patients daily to understand their experiences.
Conclusion
Physicians perceive benefits to e-mail communication with a select group of patients, but several barriers need to be addressed for wider adoption.
Supporting Evidence
- E-mail communication enhances chronic-disease management.
- Physicians reported improved continuity of care with e-mail.
- Integration of e-mail into daily workflow is a concern for many physicians.
- Physicians are selective about which patients they communicate with via e-mail.
Takeaway
Doctors are using e-mail to talk to some patients, which helps them manage health better, but not all doctors are on board yet.
Methodology
In-depth phone interviews of 45 physicians were conducted and analyzed for qualitative insights.
Potential Biases
The sample was drawn from an online physician organization, which may skew towards more tech-savvy individuals.
Limitations
The sample size was relatively small and may not represent all physicians.
Participant Demographics
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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