Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25191188›Full record

ArticleSaudi journal of anaesthesia2014

E-mail communication in pain practice: The importance of being earnest.

Irene Solera Ruiz, Guadalupe Población García, Irene Riquelme

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Saudi journal of anaesthesia, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Irene Solera RuizConsultant, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Treatment, León Hospital, León, Spain.
Guadalupe Población GarcíaConsultant, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Treatment, Severo Ochoa Hospital, Severo, Spain.
Irene RiquelmeConsultant, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Treatment, Torrejón Hospital, Torrejón, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInformation technology can play a vital role in meeting patient needs and reinforcing the relationship among patients and their pain physicians. However, strong resistance remains on the medical side to this type of non-frontal care.

objectivesThe primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an E-mail intervention on customers' satisfaction. The secondary goals were to analyze the messages from patients to their clinician (not only the volume but also the content) and the impact on client, professional and health services outcomes. STUDY

designA prospective, non-randomized evaluation of patients undergoing treatment for chronic pain from September 2011 to May 2012.

settingA private, specialty referral center in Spain. MATERIALS AND

methodsParticipants were users visiting the Pain Management Unit evaluated by one physician. The E-mail address of the facility was written in every medical report provided. Patient satisfaction at the end of the 8-month trial period was assessed and outcomes recorded.

resultsPatients reported better communication with their therapist and greater satisfaction with overall care. 780 E-mails were read. Specialists received an average of 5 messages per day (standard deviation 0,3). None of them was unsuitable. LIMITATIONS: This is a prospective, single center evaluation performed by one doctor. There was no control group due to ethical considerations.

conclusionsElectronic communication is a cheap, easy and feasible way to address a wide range of concerns, thus enhancing patients' satisfaction. More efforts are needed to implement routinely usage of this tool. If used appropriately, E-mail can facilitate physician-dependent interactions, promote access to care, save time and reduce costs. Concerns about billing, improper utilization, privacy and confidentiality might complicate its introduction and acceptance. Internet access remains a significant barrier to online patient-provider transference.

Indexed as

Chronic painelectronic communicationelectronic self-reported outcomesE-mailinternetnetonline communicationpain clinicpain unitpatient satisfactionpersistent painself-report assessment

Identifiers

PMID25191188
PMCPMC4141386

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LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.