Table 3 Attitudes to medical consultation e-mail
Question | N (%) |
|---|---|
Do you use e-mail? | |
Yes | 171 (85.5) |
No | 29 (14.5) |
How do you feel about getting your physician’s e-mail address? | |
Very interested | 25 (14.6) |
Would not object | 85 (49.7) |
Not interested | 61 (35.7) |
Getting my physician’s e-mail address could improve the relationship between us: | |
Agree | 121 (70.8) |
Do not agree | 50 (29.2) |
Getting my physician’s e-mail address could improve my sense of security even if I don’t use it: | |
Agree | 97 (56.7) |
Do not agree | 74 (43.3) |
Email is an effective means of communication that could solve my problems: | |
Agree | 44 (25.7) |
Do not agree | 127 (74.3) |
e-mail can cut down on the number of clinic visits: | |
Agree | 46 (26.9) |
Do not agree | 125 (73.1) |
e-mail can reduce the number of emergency room visits: | |
Agree | 30 (17.5) |
Do not agree | 141 (82.5) |
Getting your physician’s email address could interfere with his/her privacy when they’re not working: | |
Agree | 98 (57.6) |
Do not agree | 72 (42.4) |
The physician should not be sent an e-mail because there are telephone centers that are active after clinic hours: | |
Agree | 143 (84.1) |
Do not agree | 27 (15.9) |
The physician should not be sent an e-mail because in emergencies one can call for an ambulance or go to the emergency room: | |
Agree | 159 (93.5) |
Do not agree | 11 (6.5) |
The physician should not be sent an e-mail because medical errors can occur if a physical examination is not performed: | |
Agree | 155 (91.2) |
Do not agree | 15 (8.8) |
The physician should not be sent an e-mail because there is a risk of miscommunication: | |
Agree | 154 (90.6) |
Do not agree | 16 (9.4) |
The physician should not be sent an e-mail because it can interfere with his clinic work: | |
Agree | 119 (70.0) |
Do not agree | 51 (30.0) |
There is no reason against getting the physician’s personal e-mail address: | |
Agree | 10 (5.9) |
Do not agree | 160 (94.1) |
At what times would you send the doctor and e-mail message? | |
Only at appointed hours | 53 (48.6) |
Only during daytime hours (excepting Saturdays and holidays) | 30 (27.5) |
At all hours including nights, Saturdays and holidays | 26 (23.9) |
Under which circumstance would you send your physician an e-mail message? | |
Only in emergencies | 62 (56.9) |
Whenever I think I need a medical consultation | 47 (43.1) |
If the HMO provided the physician with a laptop computer and paid for Internet services, that would motivate him/her to provide the e-mail address: | |
Agree | 102 (59.6) |
Do not agree | 60 (40.4) |
If the HMO gave the physician extra pay for email consultations, it would motivate him/her to provide the email address: | |
Agree | 116 (67.8) |
Do not agree | 55 (32.2) |
If the HMO gave the physician dedicated time for e-mail consultations, it would motivate him/her to provide the e-mail address: | |
Agree | 144 (84.2) |
Do not agree | 27 (15.8) |
Have you asked for your physician’s e-mail address in the past? | |
Yes | 1 (0.6) |
No | 170 (99.4) |
Do you have your physician’s e-mail address? | |
Yes | 0 (0) |
No | 171 (100.0) |