Comparison 14. Email compared to standard methods of communication: Secondary outcome, health service outcomes, use of medical services.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Number of patients who initiated additional contact with the surgeon	1	100	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.76 [1.41, 10.05]
2 Telephone messages per patient (for those consenting to allow a view of their medical record only)	1	291	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.06 [‐0.33, 0.21]
3 Total messages (telephone plus portal) per patient (for those patients consenting to allow a view of their medical record)	1	291	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.19 [‐0.15, 0.53]
4 Number of contacts with the augmentative communication service			Other data	No numeric data
5 Number of independent contacts with the augmentative communication service			Other data	No numeric data