title: ICT and the future of health care: aspects of doctor-patient communication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current digital revolution is particularly relevant for interactions of healthcare providers with patients and the community as a whole. The growing public acceptance and distribution of new communication tools such as smart mobile phones provide the prerequisite for information and communication technology (ICT) -assisted healthcare applications. The present study aimed at identifying specifications and perceptions of different interest groups regarding future demands of ICT-supported doctor-patient communication in Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  German-speaking Austrian healthcare experts (n = 73; 74 percent males; mean age, 43.9 years; SD 9.4) representing medical professionals, patient advocates, and administrative personnel participated in a 2-round online Delphi process. Participants evaluated scenario-based benefits and obstacles for possible prospect introduction as well as degree of innovation, desirability, and estimated implementation dates of two medical care-related future set ups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Panelists expected the future ICT-supported doctor-patient dialogue to especially improve the three factors doctors-patient relationship, patients' knowledge, and quality of social health care. However, lack of acceptance by doctors, data security, and monetary aspects were considered as the three most relevant barriers for ICT implementation. Furthermore, inter-group comparison regarding desirability of future scenarios showed that medical professionals tended to be more skeptical about health-related technological innovations (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this survey revealed different expectations among interest groups. Thus, we suggest building taskforces and using workshops for establishing a dialogue between stakeholders to positively shape the future of ICT-supported collaboration and communication between doctors and patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health,Center for Public Health,Medical University of Vienna Kinderspitalgasse 15,A-1090 Vienna,Austriaemail:daniela.haluza@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haluza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health,Center for Public Health,Medical University of Vienna Kinderspitalgasse 15,A-1090 Vienna,Austriaemail:davidjungwirth@gmx.at.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jungwirth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D003142:Communication; D003146:Communications Media / Q000639:trends*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires