title: E-mail access and improved communication between patient and surgeon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness of e-mail communication between surgeon and patient prior to elective surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred consecutive patients presenting for consultation prior to undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  All were randomized to either receiving an information sheet promoting e-mail communication as the preferred method of communication (group E) or a standard information sheet (group S).
  
  
  METHODS
  (1) Use of communication with the surgeon outside of the booked preoperative and postoperative consultation and (2) satisfaction questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 26 of 100 patients (26%) initiated additional perioperative communication with the surgeon, 19 of 50 (38%) in group E and 7 of 50 (14%) in group S (P < .001). Of those who initiated communication, 22 of 26 (84%) did so by e-mail; 3 (12%), by fax; and 1 (4%), by telephone. For patients using e-mail, 18 of 22 (81%) were in group E and 4 of 22 (18%), in group S (P < .02). Overall, 34 e-mails were sent by 22 patients in the study group. Most e-mails sent focused on only 1 issue; however, some patients raised multiple issues, with the most being 4 issues in a single e-mail. There were no differences in any of the outcome measures in relation to patient satisfaction with communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite concerns about potential medicolegal issues and other disadvantages, providing patients undergoing elective surgery with e-mail access to their surgeon results in improved levels of communication without any demonstrated impairment of satisfaction with outcomes.
authors.affiliation: FRACS, Department of Endocrine and Oncology Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stalberg
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ketteridge
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Delbridge
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delbridge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016105:Parathyroidectomy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D013965:Thyroidectomy