title: How do patients use email to communicate with their doctor?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate unsolicited email sent from patients to a general obstetrician-gynecologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of 60 unsolicited emails sent to an obstetrician-gynecologist. Time sent, content, and physician response were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most emails were sent during office hours. Fifty-four percent of the emails had content related to gynecologic issues. Twenty-seven percent of the emails had content related to obstetrical concerns. Nineteen percent of emails were nonclinical in nature. Fourteen percent of emails required a follow-up phone call. Twenty-nine percent of emails necessitated an office visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients did not use email for emergency communication. The participating physician was pleased with the ease of responding to patients, especially while away from the office.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA. dgussman@meridianhealth.com
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gussman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Monica J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tschirhart
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blechman
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors