Vol. 14 No. 1 (2012)
Systematic Review

Email in Medical Practice: A Critical Review

Published 2020-08-05

Keywords

  • Physician Patient Relationship,
  • Communication,
  • Electronic Mail,
  • Ethics,
  • Medical,
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • ...More
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How to Cite

1.
Nensi A, Chandok N. Email in Medical Practice: A Critical Review. McGill J Med [Internet]. 2020 Aug. 5 [cited 2025 Oct. 6];14(1). Available from: https://mjm.mcgill.ca/article/view/211

Abstract

Email between patients and physicians can be an effective means of communication and health care delivery, but concerns over security, privacy, fea- sibility, and legality prevail. This paper reviews the limited literature in this area, highlighting our current understanding of the prevalence of email in clinical prac- tice, patient attitudes toward email communication, and the impact of email communication on patient outcomes. While there is a paucity of data on the role, benefts, and risks of email communication, patients and physicians alike should consider secure email as a convenient tool for communication. Physicians require further guidelines on appropriate uses of email in clinical practice to best enhance patient autonomy, preserve patient confdentiality, and comply with current medico-legal standards.

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