Background: Physicians abroad are mainly reluctant to implement the means of modern information communication technologies (ICT) in family medicine, due to the additional unpaid workload, time consumption, flood of e-mails and their perception of e-mail as an improper means of communication with regard to the content, doubts about security, possible mistakes and delays in treatment. Methods: In 2011, a systematic sample of family physicians was invited to fill the Questionnaire of Possible Use of Modern ICT in doctor-patient communications (Cronbach α)0.7). The response rate was 84.6%. Of the physicians, 79.2% answered affirmatively that they would accept e-mail and mobile phone as means of regular communication (dependent variable). Associations between the latter, and the independent variables, especially those related to the need for family practice reorganisation, were analysed using logistic regression modelling, and 54% variance was explained (P(0.05). Results: 70.4% of physicians would accept the implementation of e-mail and mobile phones as a regular means of doctor-patient communication. This was associated with higher age in physicians (OR=1.33; CI 95% 1.07-1,65; P=0.011), the surgery situated in a rural environment (OR=7.97, CI 95 % 1.20-53.12; P=0.032), more frequent use of computers at work (OR=7.01, CI 95% 1.76-27.86; P=0.006) and the perceived advantages of the e-mail use, i.e. the speed of e-mail transmission (OR=6.60; CI 95% 1.83-23.71; P=0.004) and time saving (OR=7.55; CI 95% 2.00-28.51; P=0.003). Against were widowed and single physicians (OR=0.22; CI 95% 0.06-0.85; P=0.028), who believed that reorganisation of family clinic functioning would be needed prior to this mandatory implementation (OR=0.02; CI 95% 0.00-0.24; P=0.002). Discussion: Family physicians mainly embraced the implementation of e-mail and mobile phones as a regular means of doctor-patient communication. This was not based on the need for work-reorganisation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 30745817
Introduction: The emergence and use of new information technologies have been changing communication in family medicine. The attitudes of family physicians (GPs) towards the use e-mail in communication with patients are presented. Methods: In May 2011 every third one of 935 registered GPs was invited to voluntarily and anonymously participate in the study. By the end of June 2011, 264 of 312 submitted questionnaires had been returned (84.6% response rate). The questionnaire consisted of 56 questions with appropriate internal consistency (Cronbach α) 0.7). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. Linear regression block analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. For each independent variable the beta coefficient, t-value and p-value were calculated. A P-value (0.05 was the limit of statistical significance. Results: There were 194 (73.5%) female and 69 (26.1%) male participants, aged 44.2±10.2 years, employed in public (190 (72.2%)) or private health care institutions (17 (6.5%)), or working as concessionaires (56 (21.3%), with an average length of service in family medicine of16.1± 11.1 years. Only 12 (4.5%) physicians rejected the consultation and management of patients by the use of e-mail. Acceptance of e-mail as a means of communication with patients was associated with regular internet use for education in physicians (β=0.15, p=0.048), with the benefits of faster transmission of messages (β=0.25, p=0.005), time saving (β=0.19, p=0.025) and proof of receipt (β=0.19, p=0.032), explaining 51% of the variance in the modelling process. Discussion: Regular use of the internet for educational purposes and the characteristics of e-mail communication regarding the use of time and feedback on receipt were associated with acceptance of communication with patients via e-mail in family physicians.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29946329
Background This is one of three Cochrane reviews that examine the role of the telephone in HIV/AIDS services. Both in developed and developing countries there is a large proportion of people who do not know they are infected with HIV. Knowledge of one's own HIV serostatus is necessary to access HIV support, care and treatment and to prevent acquisition or further transmission of HIV. Using telephones instead of face-to-face or other means of HIV test results delivery could lead to more people receiving their HIV test results. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of telephone use for delivery of HIV test results and post-test counselling. To evaluate the effectiveness of delivering HIV test results by telephone, we were interested in whether they can increase the proportion of people who receive their HIV test results and the number of people knowing their HIV status. Search methods We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PubMed Central, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL), WHOs The Global Health Library and Current Controlled Trials from 1980 to June 2011. We also searched grey literature sources such as Dissertation Abstracts International,CAB Direct Global Health, OpenSIGLE, The Healthcare Management Information Consortium, Google Scholar, Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, International AIDS Society and AEGIS Education Global Information System, and reference lists of relevant studies for this review. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomised controlled trials (qRCTs), controlled before and after studies (CBAs), and interrupted time series (ITS) studies comparing the effectiveness of telephone HIV test results notification and post-test counselling to face-to-face or other ways of HIV test result delivery in people regardless of their demographic characteristics and in all settings. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently searched, screened, assessed study quality and extracted data. A third reviewer resolved any disagreement. Main results Out of 14 717 citations, only one study met the inclusion criteria; an RCT conducted on homeless and high-risk youth between September 1998 and October 1999 in Portland, United States. Participants (n=351) were offered counselling and oral HIV testing and were randomised into face-to-face (n=187 participants) and telephone (n=167) notification groups. The telephone notification group had the option of receiving HIV test results either by telephone or face-to-face. Overall, only 48% (n=168) of participants received their HIV test results and post-test counselling. Significantly more participants received their HIV test results in the telephone notification group compared to the face-to-face notification group; 58% (n=106) vs. 37% (n=62) (p ( 0.001). In the telephone notification group, the majority of participants who received their HIV test results did so by telephone (88%, n=93). The study could not offer information about the effectiveness of telephone HIV test notification with HIV-positive participants because only two youth tested positive and both were assigned to the face-to-face notification group. The study had a high risk of bias. Authors' conclusions We found only one eligible study. Although this study showed the use of the telephone for HIV test results notification was more effective than face-to-face delivery, it had a high-risk of bias. The study was conducted about 13 years ago in a high-income country, on a high-risk population, with low HIV prevalence, and the applicability of its results to other settings and contexts is unclear. The study did not provide information about telephone HIV test results notification of HIV positive people since none of the intervention group participants were HIV positive. We found no information about the acceptability of the intervention to patients and providers, its economic o
COBISS.SI-ID: 30603737
Aim: To identify the factors associated with attitudes towards the use of e-mail as a means of communication between patients and physicians in family medicine in Slovenia. Method: In 2011 questionnaires with 46 identical questions (Cronbach α)0.7) were administered by systematic sampling of family physicians and their patients (response rate 84.6% and 92.1%, respectively). Linear regression block analysis was used for jointed database (n=810; 63.3% of participants) to investigate the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable, with P-value (0.05 as the limit of statistical significance. Results: In the sample, there were 232 (28.6%) physicians and 578 (71.4%), aged 39.7±11.7 years. Both were equally likely to use e-mail as a means of communication; their attitudes were associated with time saving (β=0.27, p(0,001), faster transmission of messages (β=0.14, p=0.004), proof of receipt (β=0.12, p=0.002), the use of e-mail for personal purposes (β=0.07, p=0.043), with single or widowed marital status (β=- 0.08, p=0.020) and possible misunderstandings (β=- 0.09; p=0.010), explaining 38.1% of the variance in the modelling process. Conclusion: The characteristics of e-mail communication and regular use of e-mail were associated with attitudes towards e-mail as a means of mutual communication in family physicians and patients.
COBISS.SI-ID: 30294489
Background: Mobile phone messaging, such as Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Message Service (MMS), has rapidly grown into a mode of communication with a wide range of applications, including communicating the results from medical investigations to patients. Alternative modes of communication of results include face-to-face communication, postal messages, calls to landlines or mobile phones, through web-based health records and email. Possible advantages of mobile phone messaging include convenience to both patients and healthcare providers, reduced waiting times for health services and healthcare costs. Objectives: To assess the effects of mobile phone messaging for communicating results of medical investigations, on people's healthcare-seeking behaviour and health outcomes. Secondary objectives include assessment of participants' evaluation of the intervention,direct and indirect healthcare costs and possible risks and harmsassociated with the intervention. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 2), MEDLINE (OvidSP) (January 1993 to June 2009), EMBASE (OvidSP) (January 1993 to June 2009), PsycINFO (OvidSP) (January 1993 to June 2009), CINAHL (EbscoHOST) (January 1993 to June 2009), LILACS (January 1993 to June 2009) and African Health Anthology (January 1993 to June 2009). We also reviewed grey literature (including trial registers) and reference lists of articles. Selection criteria: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs),quasi-randomised controlled trials (QRCTs), controlled before-after (CBA) studies, or interrupted time series (ITS) studies with at least three time points before and after the interventions. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
COBISS.SI-ID: 30291161