E-mail access and improved communication between patient and surgeon.
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.
Stalberg
Peter
P
FRACS, Department of Endocrine and Oncology Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Yeh
Michael
M
Ketteridge
Geraldine
G
Delbridge
Hilary
H
Delbridge
Leigh
L
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