title: E-Mail Communication Practices and Preferences Among Patients and Providers in a Large Comprehensive Cancer Center.
abstract: Little is known about how electronic mail (e-mail) is currently used in oncology practice to facilitate patient care. The objective of our study was to understand the current e-mail practices and preferences of patients and physicians in a large comprehensive cancer center.
  
  
  
  Separate cross-sectional surveys were administered to patients and physicians (staff physicians and clinical fellows) at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with current e-mail use. Record review was performed to assess the impact of e-mail communication on care.
  
  
  
  The survey was completed by 833 patients. E-mail contact with a member of the health care team was reported by 41% of respondents. The team members contacted included administrative assistants (52%), nurses (45%), specialist physicians (36%), and family physicians (18%). Patient factors associated with a higher likelihood of e-mail contact with the health care team included younger age, higher education, higher income, enrollment in a clinical trial, and receipt of multiple treatments. Eighty percent of physicians (n = 63 of 79) reported previous contact with a patient via e-mail. Physician factors associated with a greater likelihood of e-mail contact with patients included older age, more senior clinical position, and higher patient volume. Nine hundred sixty-two patient records were reviewed, with e-mail correspondence documented in only 9% of cases.
  
  
  
  E-mail is commonly used for patient care but is poorly documented. The use of e-mail in this setting can be developed with appropriate guidance; however, there may be concerns about widening the gap between certain groups of patients.
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Manjula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maganti
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobriyal
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheinis
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Alice C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jolie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ringash
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; University of Toronto; and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada monika.krzyzanowska@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Monika K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003142:Communication; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072103:Oncologists / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult