BACKGROUND: Nearly half of the Norwegian population claim that they would like to use the internet to communicate with their general practitioner. A web-based system complying with Norway's strict statutory requirements for the processing of personal data was developed and tested in an effort to assess the implications of this mode of communication. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The system was tested for one year in a group practice with six doctors. 200 patients were recruited and randomized into intervention and control groups. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and system logs. RESULTS: The 48 patients who used the system sent on average 3.3 messages, the six doctors sent between nine and 65 messages each. Traditional inquiries (visits, telephones) to the doctor averaged 3.2 and 4.5 for the intervention and control group respectively. 41% of the messages were inquiries about health issues, 22% were about renewals of prescriptions and sick leave notes, while 13% were requests for an appointment. Patients and doctors were both positive to this mode of communication. Patients who did not use the service said that they expected to use it in the future. INTERPRETATION: Electronic communication appears to replace some consultations and telephone inquiries. The study gives reason to expect that communication between patients and general practitioners over the internet will be more important in the future.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Nearly half of the Norwegian population claim that they would like to use the internet to communicate with their general practitioner. A web-based system complying with Norway's strict statutory requirements for the processing of personal data was developed and tested in an effort to assess the implications of this mode of communication. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The system was tested for one year in a group practice with six doctors. 200 patients were recruited and randomized into intervention and control groups. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and system logs. RESULTS: The 48 patients who used the system sent on average 3.3 messages, the six doctors sent between nine and 65 messages each. Traditional inquiries (visits, telephones) to the doctor averaged 3.2 and 4.5 for the intervention and control group respectively. 41% of the messages were inquiries about health issues, 22% were about renewals of prescriptions and sick leave notes, while 13% were requests for an appointment. Patients and doctors were both positive to this mode of communication. Patients who did not use the service said that they expected to use it in the future. INTERPRETATION: Electronic communication appears to replace some consultations and telephone inquiries. The study gives reason to expect that communication between patients and general practitioners over the internet will be more important in the future.
Authors: Freda Mold; Simon de Lusignan; Aziz Sheikh; Azeem Majeed; Jeremy C Wyatt; Tom Quinn; Mary Cavill; Christina Franco; Umesh Chauhan; Hannah Blakey; Neha Kataria; Theodoros N Arvanitis; Beverley Ellis Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2015-03 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Monika Alise Johansen; Eva Henriksen; Alexander Horsch; Tibor Schuster; Gro K Rosvold Berntsen Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2012-10-03 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Monika Alise Johansen; Gro K Rosvold Berntsen; Tibor Schuster; Eva Henriksen; Alexander Horsch Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2012-10-03 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Simon de Lusignan; Freda Mold; Aziz Sheikh; Azeem Majeed; Jeremy C Wyatt; Tom Quinn; Mary Cavill; Toto Anne Gronlund; Christina Franco; Umesh Chauhan; Hannah Blakey; Neha Kataria; Fiona Barker; Beverley Ellis; Phil Koczan; Theodoros N Arvanitis; Mary McCarthy; Simon Jones; Imran Rafi Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2014-09-08 Impact factor: 2.692