Table 4.
Prevalence of email communication with clinicians by individuals’ characteristics based on authors’ analysis of National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Surveys, 2013 and 2018. Percentages are weighted national estimates.
| Characteristics | Individuals emailing clinicians in 2013, % (95% CI) | Individuals emailing clinicians in 2018, % (95% CI) | P value | ||
| Age (years) | <.001 | ||||
|
|
18-44 | 6.82 (6.25-7.39) | 15.98 (14.87-17.10) |
|
|
|
|
45-64 | 8.81 (8.12-9.50) | 19.15 (17.97-20.33) |
|
|
|
|
65+ | 5.23 (4.47-6.00) | 14.21 (13.09-15.32) |
|
|
| Sex | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Male | 6.02 (5.47-6.57) | 14.25 (13.29-15.22) |
|
|
|
|
Female | 8.33 (7.77-8.89) | 18.93 (17.83-20.02) |
|
|
| Education | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Less than a high school diploma | 1.00 (0.65-1.36) | 2.55 (1.84-3.26) |
|
|
|
|
High school diploma or equivalent | 3.26 (2.74-3.79) | 8.66 (7.74-9.58) |
|
|
|
|
Some college, no degree | 6.54 (5.69-7.39) | 15.21 (13.74-16.68) |
|
|
|
|
Associate’s degree | 6.97 (5.92-8.01) | 17.41 (15.72-19.09) |
|
|
|
|
Bachelor’s degree | 12.87 (11.87-13.86) | 25.18 (23.51-26.86) |
|
|
|
|
Graduate or professional degree | 17.06 (15.49-18.64) | 33.23 (31.03-35.43) |
|
|
| Hispanic | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Yes | 3.36 (2.78-3.93) | 9.41 (8.00-10.83) |
|
|
|
|
No | 7.91 (7.50-8.31) | 18.09 (17.23-18.95) |
|
|
| Race | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Black | 4.68 (3.85-5.50) | 11.07 (9.74-12.40) |
|
|
|
|
Other race | 9.07 (7.71-10.43) | 16.86 (14.17-19.56) |
|
|
|
|
White | 7.45 (7.04-7.86) | 17.56 (16.64-18.48) |
|
|
| Speak English | |||||
|
|
Not at all | 0.30 (0.00-0.77) | 0.48 (0.00-1.15) | .67 | |
|
|
Not well | 1.13 (0.58-1.68) | 0.75 (0.16-1.34) | .35 | |
|
|
Well | 3.51 (2.49-4.54) | 9.48 (7.40-11.55) | <.001 | |
|
|
Very well | 8.39 (7.75-9.03) | 18.16 (17.29-19.04) | <.001 | |
| Region | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Northeast | 6.35 (5.57-7.14) | 15.59 (13.77-17.42) |
|
|
|
|
Midwest | 6.05 (5.25-6.84) | 16.28 (14.78-17.78) |
|
|
|
|
South | 5.88 (5.37-6.40) | 14.54 (13.28-15.80) |
|
|
|
|
West | 11.17 (10.29-12.06) | 21.10 (18.78-23.42) |
|
|
| Health insurance | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Uninsured | 1.91 (1.48-2.34) | 4.71 (3.70-5.73) |
|
|
|
|
Medicaid or other public payer | 3.76 (2.90-4.62) | 7.70 (6.48-8.92) |
|
|
|
|
Medicare | 4.05 (3.32-4.78) | 13.63 (12.14-15.12) |
|
|
|
|
Military | 9.06 (6.92-11.19) | 23.03 (18.35-27.72) |
|
|
|
|
Private | 9.61 (9.08-10.13) | 20.54 (19.50-21.57) |
|
|
| Saw/spoke to clinician in prior 12 months | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Physician | 8.81 (8.36-9.27) | 20.01 (19.03-20.99) |
|
|
|
|
Nonphysician clinician | 4.85 (3.65-6.04) | 9.23 (7.53-10.93) |
|
|
|
|
None | 1.54 (1.1-1.98) | 3.34 (2.54-4.14) |
|
|
| Internet use | <.001 | ||||
|
|
Yes | 9.38 (8.93-9.84) | 20.09 (19.13-21.04) |
|
|
|
|
No | 0.44 (0.23-0.65) | 1.28 (0.85-1.71) |
|
|