View in EDS

E-mail in patient-provider communication: a systematic review.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: E-mail in patient-provider communication: a systematic review.
Authors: Ye J (AUTHOR), Rust G (AUTHOR), Fry-Johnson Y (AUTHOR), Strothers H (AUTHOR), Ye, Jiali1 (AUTHOR), Rust, George (AUTHOR), Fry-Johnson, Yvonne (AUTHOR), Strothers, Harry (AUTHOR)
Source: Patient Education & Counseling. Aug2010, Vol. 80 Issue 2, p266-273. 8p.
Abstract: Objective: To review systematically the role of e-mails in patient-provider communication in terms of e-mail content, and perspectives of providers and patients on e-mail communication in health care.Methods: A systematic review of studies on e-mail communication between patients and health providers in regular health care published from 2000 to 2008.Results: A total of 24 studies were included in the review. Among these studies, 21 studies examined e-mail communication between patients and providers, and three studies examined the e-mail communication between parents of patients in pediatric primary care and pediatricians. In the content analyses of e-mail messages, topics well represented were medical information exchange, medical condition or update, medication information, and subspecialty evaluation. A number of personal and institutional features were associated with the likelihood of e-mail use between patients and providers. While benefits of e-mails in enhancing communication were recognized by both patients and providers, concerns about confidentiality and security were also expressed.Conclusion: The e-mail is transforming the relationship between patients and providers. The rigorous exploration of pros and cons of electronic interaction in health care settings will help make e-mail communication a more powerful, mutually beneficial health care provision tool.Practice Implications: It is important to develop an electronic communication system for the clinical practice that can address a range of concerns. More efforts need to be made to educate patients and providers to appropriately and effectively use e-mail for communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Patient Education & Counseling is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:<bold>Objective: </bold>To review systematically the role of e-mails in patient-provider communication in terms of e-mail content, and perspectives of providers and patients on e-mail communication in health care.<bold>Methods: </bold>A systematic review of studies on e-mail communication between patients and health providers in regular health care published from 2000 to 2008.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 24 studies were included in the review. Among these studies, 21 studies examined e-mail communication between patients and providers, and three studies examined the e-mail communication between parents of patients in pediatric primary care and pediatricians. In the content analyses of e-mail messages, topics well represented were medical information exchange, medical condition or update, medication information, and subspecialty evaluation. A number of personal and institutional features were associated with the likelihood of e-mail use between patients and providers. While benefits of e-mails in enhancing communication were recognized by both patients and providers, concerns about confidentiality and security were also expressed.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The e-mail is transforming the relationship between patients and providers. The rigorous exploration of pros and cons of electronic interaction in health care settings will help make e-mail communication a more powerful, mutually beneficial health care provision tool.<bold>Practice Implications: </bold>It is important to develop an electronic communication system for the clinical practice that can address a range of concerns. More efforts need to be made to educate patients and providers to appropriately and effectively use e-mail for communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:07383991
DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2009.09.038