Internet-Based Patient Communication

OBJECTIVE: To investigate some of the consequences that electronic health communication has for patients, health professionals and society at large. The underlying studies investigate reasons patients provide for using online communication solutions, the current propagation and pace of Internet health communication, and whether such services would replace conventional health communication channels. METHODS: These objectives were addressed in three separate studies, all using different methodological approaches. The exploratory study used online questionnaires, receiving 492 responses. The population study used telephone interviews with 14,956 respondents from seven different European countries, while the intervention study was designed as a randomised controlled trial with a total of 200 patients. RESULTS: The results showed that patients found advantages in online communication, and some reported that it was easier to talk about sensitive subjects online. For all the seven studied European countries, there was significant growth in the proportion of the population using Internet for health purposes in the period 2005-2007. More patients are using the Internet as an active communication channel, both for reaching health professionals and for reaching peers. Direct electronic communication was shown to replace other communication channels, especially face-to-face consultations in family doctor settings. CONCLUSIONS: Internet-based patient communication is starting to become an important part of today’s health care systems. To some degree, conventional communication channels are being replaced by online alternatives. However, there still appears to be potential for further growth. It is clear that in addition to the practical advantages of asynchronous communication in flexibility and saved travelling time, such communication also gives patients the time they need to formulate their questions.