title: "You've got mail!": the role of e-mail in clinical breast surgical practice.
abstract: Easy Internet access is changing the practice of medicine in the US. At least 137 million Americans have access to the World Wide Web, and up to one-half would like to communicate with their physicians by e-mail. The membership of the American Society of Breast Surgeons was surveyed to evaluate the current role of e-mail in patient-doctor relationships. Due to the extensive discussions often involved in the evaluation of breast disease, and the elective nature of most surgical procedures, this specialty may be particularly well-suited to using e-mail communication as an extension of discussions during traditional office visits. A questionnaire was e-mailed to all members of the ASBS who had provided an e-mail address. About 1236 questionnaires were sent, and 285 surgeons responded, a 23% response rate. About 130 (46%) responders were female; 209 responders (73%) did not use e-mail to communicate with patients (76% of responding females, 70% of males). The oldest and youngest surgeons were least likely to use e-mail to communicate with patients. There was no gender-related difference in e-mail use. There was no difference in e-mail use between surgeons who limit their practice to breast disease and those who do not. Urban and university-based surgeons were more likely to use e-mail. Medical-legal liability concerns and confidentiality issues were the most common reasons for not using e-mail. Among those surgeons who did use e-mail, ability to answer at one's own discretion, and the ability to provide an organized response were the major reasons for using e-mail. Overall, the membership expressed a preference for personal interaction over electronic communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA. amber.guth@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Amber A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Guth
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diflo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014481:United States