Skip to main content
. 2012 Nov 14;2012(11):CD007978. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007978.pub2

Comparison 10. Email compared to standard methods of communication: Secondary outcome, health professional perceptions.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Email benefits scale (Physicians' perceived benefits of email use with patients) 1   Mean Difference (Fixed, 95% CI) 3.2 [0.70, 5.70]
2 Email bother scale (Physician perceptions of levels of 'bother' with different types of patient email) 1   Mean Difference (Fixed, 95% CI) ‐3.2 [‐6.09, ‐0.31]
3 I like using email to communicate with my patients 1 89 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.60 [1.10, 6.14]
4 Perception that email is a good way to answer patients' non‐urgent medical questions 1 89 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.81 [1.07, 7.42]
5 Perception that email is helpful for handling patients' administrative concerns 1 89 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 4.34 [1.53, 12.32]
6 How much of a problem are emails from patients who haven't seen you in a long time? 1 89 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.19 [0.05, 0.73]
7 Physicians' web benefits scale (perceived benefits of web communication with patients)     Other data No numeric data
8 Physicians web benefits scale: would encourage my patients to use web; agree/strongly agree 1 94 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.59 [1.13, 5.96]
9 Physicians web benefits scale ‐would be a good way for my patients to contact me; agree/strongly agree 1 94 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.83 [0.81, 4.14]
10 Physicians web benefits scale ‐ would be a good way to follow up after an appointment; agree/strongly agree 1 94 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 3.08 [1.27, 7.49]
11 Physicians web benefits scale ‐ would like to use web to communicate with patients; agree/strongly agree 1 94 Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.59 [1.13, 5.96]
12 General Communication Scale 2   Mean Difference (Fixed, 95% CI) Totals not selected
13 Physician satisfaction with patient communication outside of clinical visits 2   Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) Totals not selected