How do patients and general practitioners in Denmark perceive the communicative advantages and disadvantages of access via email consultations? A media-theoretical qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Email consultations have become part of everyday doctor-patient communication in many countries. The objective of this study is to investigate how patients and general practitioners (GPs) perceive the communicative advantages and disadvantages of access via email consultation drawing on a media-theoretical perspective.

Design

We analysed qualitative interview data from general practices in Denmark to identify salient themes.

Participants

Our data set consists of semi-structured interviews with 30 patients and 23 GPs. The data were collected from February 2016 to September 2019.

Results

The following themes emerged: (1) lower contact threshold, (2) accessing a new interaction space and (3) access to access. From the patients' perspective, email consult

SUBMITTER: Gronning A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7592270 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature