Table 2.

Content Analysis Categories and Definitions of Secure Messages

CATEGORY	DEFINITION
Changes, adjustments, and re-arranging care	Discussions about changes to treatment, appointment adjustments, whether an in-person visit is necessary, sharing preferences about coming into the hospital, or facilitating care instead of coming into the hospital
Risk for COVID-19	Communication about whether a patient may be at higher risk for acquiring the virus due to issues such as compromised immunity
Precautions inside the hospital	Related to measures occurring within the hospital about its safety and COVID protocols (e.g., masks, social distancing)
Precautions outside the hospital	Questions, concerns, statements about precautions when not in the hospital, such as seeing friends/family, social gatherings, vacations, cleaning food…etc.
Technical and procedural issues	Problems or questions about setting up telehealth or using secure messages; frustration with using technology or scheduling
Questions about symptoms and testing	Wanting to know about whether symptoms might be COVID or questions or answers about how/where to get testing, or results of a COVID test