Table 5.
A comparison of attitudes towards receiving the gynecologist's cell phone number or email address.
| Variable | Cell phone number | Email address | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| How do you feel about getting your physician's cell phone number or email address? [N (%)] | |||
| Very interested | 111 (92.5) | 107 (89.2) | 0.02 |
| Would not object | 8 (6.7) | 4 (3.3) | |
| Not interested | 1 (0.8) | 9 (7.5) | |
| Do you agree with the following statements regarding getting your physician's cell phone number or email address? (scale of 1 to 5) | |||
| It could improve the relationship between us: | |||
| Mean ± SD | 4.53 ± 0.78 | 4.60 ± 0.69 | 0.462 |
| Range | 2–5 | 2–5 | |
| It could improve my sense of security even if I don't use it: | |||
| Mean ± SD | 4.53 ± 0.78 | 4.59 ± 0.69 | 0.528 |
| Range | 2–5 | 2–5 | |
| Cell phone calls and email are effective means of communication that could solve my problems: | |||
| Agree | 4.28 ± 0.74 | 4.33 ± 0.73 | 0.598 |
| Do not agree | 2–5 | 2–5 | |
| Cell phone calls and email can cut down on the number of clinic visits: | |||
| Mean ± SD | 4.28 ± 0.74 | 4.38 ± 0.71 | 0.286 |
| Range | 2–5 | 2–5 | |
| Cell phone calls and email can reduce the number of emergency room visits: | |||
| Mean ± SD | 4.33 ± 0.74 | 4.38 ± 0.71 | 0.286 |
| Range | 2–5 | 2–5 | |
| At what times would you call or email the physician? [N (%)] | |||
| I do not intend to call | 2 (2) | 9 (8) | <0.0001 |
| Only at appointed hours | 47 (39) | 8 (7) | |
| Only during daytime hours (except Saturdays and holidays) | 56 (47) | 50 (42) | |
| At all hours including nights, Saturdays, and holidays | 15 (13) | 53 (45) | |
| Under which circumstance would you call or email your physician? [N (%)] | |||
| I do not intend to contact by email | 1 (1) | 9 (8) | <0.0001 |
| Only in unusual circumstances | 75 (63) | 44 (37) | |
| For any question | 44 (37) | 67 (56) | |
| The physician should not be called or sent an email because it could interfere with their privacy when they are not working: (scale of 1 to 5) | |||
| Mean ± SD | 3.94 ± 0.86 | 3.41 ± 1.36 | 0.0001 |
| Range | 2–5 | 1–5 | |
| The physician should not be called or sent an email because medical errors can occur if a physical examination is not performed: (scale of 1 to 5) | |||
| Mean ± SD | 3.67 ± 0.99 | 3.88 ± 0.93 | 0.091 |
| Range | 1–5 | 2–5 | |
| The physician should not be called or sent an email because there is a risk of miscommunication: (scale of 1 to 5) | |||
| Mean ± SD | 3.92 ± 0.94 | 3.08 ± 0.85 | <0.0001 |
| Range | 1–5 | 2–5 | |
| The physician should not be called or sent an email because it can interfere with his clinic work: (scale of 1 to 5) | |||
| Mean ± SD | 4.00 ± 0.90 | 3.20 ± 1.47 | <0.0001 |
| Range | 1–5 | 1–5 | |
| I see no reason why I should not get the physician's personal cell phone number or email address: (scale of 1 to 5) | |||
| Mean ± SD | 3.62 ± 1.05 | 4.16 ± 0.92 | <0.0001 |
| Range | 1–5 | 1–5 | |
| Have you asked for your physician's cell phone number or email address in the past? [N (%)] | |||
| Yes | 33 (28) | 27 (23) | 0.371 |
| Do you have your physician's cell phone number or email address? [N (%)] | |||
| Yes | 72 (60) | 73 (61) | 0.895 |
| Have you contacted your physician by cell phone or email since you became pregnant? [N (%)] | |||
| Yes | 46 (38) | 41 (34) | 0.502 |