Factors affecting patient-physician communication via the Internet.

Patients with chronic diseases would potentially benefit greatly from more rapid communication with their health provider of their medical status, healthcare concerns, and personal medical information such as vital signs, blood sugar, and medication use. This study surveyed patients in a multidisciplinary transplant and liver disease clinic to determine whether they would consider using an Internet-based system for medical management of their illness, what specific factors would impact their use of such a system, and what limitations might be encountered with respect to patient education, socioeconomic status, and Internet access.