%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I Gunther Eysenbach
%V 5
%N 2
%P e9
%T Doctors Who Are Using E-mail With Their Patients: a Qualitative Exploration
%A Patt,Madhavi R
%A Houston,Thomas K
%A Jenckes,Mollie W
%A Sands,Daniel Z
%A Ford,Daniel E
%+ University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham AL 35294-3407, USA, +1 205 934 3007, tkhouston@uabmc.edu
%K Electronic mail
%K Internet
%K physician-patient relations
%K communication
%D 2003
%7 15.5.2003
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Despite the potential for rapid, asynchronous, documentable communication, the use of e-mail for physician-patient communication has not been widely adopted. Objective: To survey physicians currently using e-mail with their patients daily to understand their experiences. Methods: In-depth phone interviews of 45 physicians currently using e-mail with patients were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Two investigators independently qualitatively coded comments. Differences were adjudicated by group consensus. Results: Almost all of the 642 comments from these physicians who currently use e-mail with patients daily could be grouped into 1 of 4 broad domains: (1) e-mail access and content, (2) effects of e-mail on the doctor-patient relationship, (3) managing clinical issues by e-mail, and (4) integrating e-mail into office processes. The most consistent theme was that e-mail communication enhances chronic-disease management. Many physicians also reported improved continuity of care and increased flexibility in responding to nonurgent issues. Integration of e-mail into daily workflow, such as utilization of office personnel, appears to be a significant area of concern for many of the physicians. For other issues, such as content, efficiency of e-mail, and confidentiality, there were diverging experiences and opinions. Physicians appear to be selective in choosing which patients they will communicate with via e-mail, but the criteria for selection is unclear. Conclusions: These physician respondents did perceive benefits to e-mail with a select group of patients. Several areas, such as identifying clinical situations where e-mail communication is effective, incorporating e-mail into office flow, and being reimbursed for online medical care/communication, need to be addressed before this mode of communication diffuses into most practices. 
%M 12857665
%R 10.2196/jmir.5.2.e9
%U http://www.jmir.org/2003/2/e9/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.5.2.e9
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12857665