Hoping to save time and money, Americans have no qualms about e-mailing their primary care physician about some health-related issues, finds a study on e-mail communication and health care.
Lightspeed Research, a marketing research firm, conducted a survey of 1,000 individuals in August 2009. The company found that over half of the participants would embrace e-mail communication for routine interactions with their doctor. However, 46% of respondents said they were unwilling to pay for an e-mail consultation, but 31% were willing to pay only if it was covered by insurance.
In the survey, nearly 60% said they had no problem with receiving routine test results via an e-mail, while 53% would send an e-mail to request a repeat prescription and 51% would do the same to update their doctors on an existing condition.
Consumers also like the idea of visiting a doctor’s Web site to conduct some of these activities, but the majority frown upon using mobile SMS (text messages) or live online chats for such activities, according to the survey's results. Most respondents said their family doctor didn’t offer the option to communicate by e-mail, Web site, text or online chat.
When asked about the key advantages to e-mailing their primary care physician about a specific illness or condition, respondents (59%) reported that wireless communication would save time by avoiding doctor’s visits, 56% said no more waiting for an appointment and 51% noted being able to avoid other sick people in the waiting room.
Women were more receptive to the idea of e-mailing their doctors than men, but individuals age 55 and older were least likely to see any advantages in e-mailing their doctor about an illness or condition, the survey’s report notes. Even though, that group was more likely to purchase its medications online, compared to other age groups in the survey.
“There are clearly a number of benefits that consumers believe they would receive if they could access their doctor by e-mail - particularly convenience and cost-saving, says Chris Urinyi, CEO of Lightspeed Research’s Americas group. “Interestingly, while older respondents were not convinced that e-mail would be a good alternative to a consultation in person with a doctor, they were the most likely to have bought drugs online," he adds.
