Comparison 5. Email compared to standard methods of communication: Primary outcome, health service outcome, resource use; patient participants.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mean number of contacts to GP and front office during study period: change from baseline	1	166	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.26 [‐1.85, ‐0.67]
2 Mean number of office visits per patient per year: change from baseline	1	199	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.1 [‐1.87, ‐0.33]
3 Mean number of phone consultations per patient per year: change from baseline	1	199	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.8 [‐1.37, ‐0.23]
4 Visits to complementary therapist: mean reduction	1		Mean Difference (Fixed, 95% CI)	0.71 [‐0.11, 1.53]
5 Number of messages sent to the practice (mean per patient)			Other data	No numeric data