title: The place of information and communication technology-mediated consultations in primary care: GPs' perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New information and communication technologies such as email and text messaging have been shown to be useful in some aspects of primary care service delivery. Little is known about Scottish GPs' attitudes towards the adoption of these technologies as routine consultation tools.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore GPs' perceptions of the potential place of new non-face-to-face consultation technologies in the routine delivery of primary care; to explore GPs' perceived barriers to the introduction of these technologies and to identify the processes by which GPs feel that new consultation technologies could be incorporated into routine primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative interview study: 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews carried out with maximum variation sample of GPs across Scotland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whilst the face-to-face consultation was seen as central to much of the clinical and diagnostic work of primary care, many GPs were conditionally willing to consider using new technologies in the future, particularly to carry out administrative or less complex tasks and therefore maximize practice efficiency and patient convenience. Key considerations were access to appropriate training, IT support and medico-legal guidance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPs are conditionally willing to use new consultation media if clinically appropriate and if medico-legal and technical support is available.
authors: School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. lisa.hanna@deakin.edu.au
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Hanna
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: May
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Fairhurst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012606:Scotland; D060145:Text Messaging; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult