Feasibility of follow-up through e-mail in patients discharged after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
Long-term follow-up in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can be important in patients care and for clinical research, but outpatients' visits or telephone interviews are time consuming.


METHODS
We studied the feasibility of follow up through e-mail in a prospectively collected series of patients with aneurysmal SAH.


RESULTS
Of the 97 patients who were discharged 58 (60%; 95% CI 49-70%) had e-mail, and all 58 provided their e-mail address. At 1 year 37 patients (64%; 95% CI 50-76%) responded to the first questionnaire sent by e-mail, 6 did so after an e-mail reminder. Fifteen responded after a telephone call, of which 12 had a new e-mail address.


CONCLUSIONS
E-mail follow-up after SAH is feasible and for patients acceptable, but the proportion of patients with no or with changing e-mail address is considerable. The validity of the responses via e-mail has to be assessed in further studies.
Greebe
Paut
P
Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neurosciences, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Rinkel
Gabriel J E
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003197:Computer Literacy; D033002:Duty to Recontact; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*