SETTING: Ten health care institutions in north-west Russia. OBJECTIVE: To improve the management of tuberculosis patients using e-mail. DESIGN: Over an 18-month period, all outgoing and incoming e-mails at the Arkhangelsk Regional Tuberculosis Centre were saved and categorised. All e-mails relating to distance learning were logged, and a consensus panel discussed and answered questionnaires regarding 47 e-mail-based second opinions. RESULTS: e-mail was found to speed up communication and increase the availability of specialist advice. Distance learning was positively received, but was used in moderation. For six of 47 consultations (13%), the consensus panel deemed that fast access to a second opinion saved lives. In 30 consultations (64%), the patient was saved a round trip to a specialist centre. In 24 consultations (51%), the panel considered that the patients had started correct treatment between 1 week and 1 month earlier than without e-mail access. In 11 of these consultations, 23% of the total, the patient was found to be infectious. The learning effects of second opinions were recognised. CONCLUSION: General e-mail use and the second opinion service in particular were found to be useful. Further studies are needed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using e-mail as a tool in the management of TB.
SETTING: Ten health care institutions in north-west Russia. OBJECTIVE: To improve the management of tuberculosispatients using e-mail. DESIGN: Over an 18-month period, all outgoing and incoming e-mails at the Arkhangelsk Regional Tuberculosis Centre were saved and categorised. All e-mails relating to distance learning were logged, and a consensus panel discussed and answered questionnaires regarding 47 e-mail-based second opinions. RESULTS: e-mail was found to speed up communication and increase the availability of specialist advice. Distance learning was positively received, but was used in moderation. For six of 47 consultations (13%), the consensus panel deemed that fast access to a second opinion saved lives. In 30 consultations (64%), the patient was saved a round trip to a specialist centre. In 24 consultations (51%), the panel considered that the patients had started correct treatment between 1 week and 1 month earlier than without e-mail access. In 11 of these consultations, 23% of the total, the patient was found to be infectious. The learning effects of second opinions were recognised. CONCLUSION: General e-mail use and the second opinion service in particular were found to be useful. Further studies are needed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using e-mail as a tool in the management of TB.
Authors: Markus Wallwiener; Christian W Wallwiener; Sara Y Brucker; Andreas D Hartkopf; Tanja N Fehm; Julia K Kansy Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2010-12-02 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Rebecca Marie Coulborn; Isabella Panunzi; Saskia Spijker; William E Brant; Laura Triviño Duran; Cara S Kosack; Michael Mitchell Murowa Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2012-06-21 Impact factor: 9.408