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. 2020 Oct 3;8:29. doi: 10.1186/s40345-020-00194-1

Table 2.

Psychiatrist responses to selected questions (N = 209)

Question N % Option
Q11 Do you routinely communicate with patients using any of these technologies? (Check all that apply)
29 14 Secure email (encrypted)
102 49 Standard email
74 35 Text message
17 8 Social media
15 7 Patient portal on an EMR/EHR
74 35 None of the above
Q12 What do you think are appropriate uses of email or online communication with patients? (Check all that apply)
131 63 Notify if symptoms worse
105 50 Notify if new symptoms
73 35 Medication refills
55 26 Routine clinical follow-ups
63 30 New clinical questions
138 66 Lab test results
145 69 Administrative (appointments or billing)
12 6 None of the above
9 4 Other
Q21 How would you describe the information that patients find online about bipolar disorder? (Check all that apply)
71 34 Increased requests for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder
90 43 Increased requests for specific medications
96 46 Increased requests for unnecessary medications or tests
22 11 Leads to delays in patients seeking help
26 12 None of the above
27 13 Don’t know
Q22 Do you think that patient online information seeking is leading to any of these consequences? (Check all that apply)
106 51 Improved discussions
56 27 Improved coping with the illness
31 15 Increased medication adherence
45 22 Increased patient confidence
103 49 Patients better able to express concerns
47 22 Few patients talk about information found online
14 7 None of the above
14 7 Don’t know
Q26 Do you routinely recommend any of these types of websites to patients with bipolar disorder? (Check all that apply)
85 41 Sites about mental health or bipolar disorder
18 9 Sites about general medical information
14 7 Sites about prescription drug information
45 22 Government mental heath sites
12 6 Government prescription drug sites
10 5 Wikipedia
86 41 Do not recommend websites
12 6 Other
Q27 What type of technology-based treatments (online, smartphone apps, or stand alone technologies) do you routinely recommend to patients with bipolar disorder? (Check all that apply)
8 4 Online psychotherapy
12 6 Online patient support groups
23 11 Active patient monitoring
13 6 Passive patient monitoring
34 16 Sleep monitoring
35 17 Medication adherence support
48 23 Relaxation techniques
123 59 Do not routinely recommend technology-based treatments
5 2 Other
Q29 Do you hesitate in recommending technology-based treatments because of any of these reasons? (Check all that apply)
28 13 Privacy considerations
114 55 Quality of information
18 9 Patient financial problems
39 19 Impact on patient behavior
48 23 Concern about online fraud
17 8 None of the above
84 40 Do not routinely recommend technology-based treatment
7 3 Other