From: Providing cell phone numbers and email addresses to Patients: the physician's perspective
Question | Cell phone N (%) | N (%) | P |
---|---|---|---|
All participants | |||
Do you give your cell phone number or email address to patients? | |||
To none | 69 (58.5) | 62 (53.0) | |
To a small portion of them | 38 (32.2) | 55 (47.0) | 0.0007 |
To all those who are interested | 11 (9.3) | 0 (0) | |
What is your attitude towards providing your cell phone number or work email address to patients? | |||
Not prepared to provide it | 42 (35.0) | 52 (43.3) | 0.18 |
Prepared, but only in special cases | 78 (65.0) | 68 (56.7) | |
Only physicians prepared to provide their cell phone number (N = 78) or email address (N = 68) to patients | |||
Why do you think it is worthwhile to give your cell phone number or email address to patients? (More than one answer is possible) | |||
Can improve the quality of the patient-physician relationship | 8 (10.3) | 9 (13.2) | 0.58 |
Can give patients a sense of security even if they don't use it | 37 (47.4) | 54 (79.4) | 0.0001 |
Is an effective tool for solving patients' problems | 22 (28.2) | 23 (3.8) | 0.46 |
Can reduce the number of clinic visits | 40 (51.3) | 25 (36.8) | 0.08 |
Can reduce the number of unnecessary emergency room visits (cut costs) | 37 (47.4) | 39 (57.4) | 0.23 |
A convenient, non-committal means of communication/cannot cause harm | 0 (0) | 2 (2.9) | 0.21 |
Only in medical emergencies such as changing Coumadin dose with INR result | 8 (10.3) | 0 (0) | 0.00 |
At what times would you agree to get call from your patients? | |||
Only at pre-determined times | 41 (52.6) | 13 (19.1) | 0.0001 |
At most times (other than weekends and holidays | 21 (26.9) | 49 (72.1) | 0.0001 |
At all times including weekends and holidays | 7 (9.0) | 2 (2.9) | 0.12 |
Only during work hours and only if I'm free to answer | 9 (11.5) | 4 (5.9) | 0.23 |
Why do you think it is not worthwhile to give your cell phone number or email address to patients? (More than one answer is possible) | |||
Impinges upon my privacy after work hours | 77 (64.7) | 56 (47.5) | 0.007 |
There are medical services available after clinic hours | 52 (43.7) | 48 (40.7) | 0.64 |
In a medical emergency it's possible to call an ambulance or go to the emergency room | 92 (77.3) | 69 (58.5) | 0.0002 |
The inability to conduct a physical examination could cause an error | 75 (63.0) | 77 (65.3) | 0.72 |
Miscommunication leading to litigation for medical negligence can occur | 35 (29.4) | 67 (56.8) | 0.0001 |
Pressure/clinic hours are enough for talks | 2(1.7) | 0(0) | 0.25 |
I don't check email often/there is a danger of hacking | 0(0) | 7(5.9) | 0.007 |
What might make you more amenable to providing your cell phone number or email address to patients? (More than one answer possible) | |||
Cell phone provided by my employer | 53(44.2) | --- | |
Extra pay for the service | 84(70.0) | 36(30.5) | 0.001 |
Allotment of time during work to answer emails | 60(50.0) | 94(79.7) | 0.001 |
Possibility of turning the phone off after work, or nothing will make me amenable | 2(1.7) | 0(0) | 0.25 |
Patients are told that there will be a low availability rate | 0(0) | 1(0.8) | 0.49 |