Abstract
BackgroundInformation is essential in healthcare. Recording, handling and sharing healthcare information is important in order to ensure high quality of delivered healthcare. Information and communication technology (ICT) may be a valuable tool for handling these challenges. One way of enhancing the exchange of information could be to establish a link between patient-specific and general information sent to the general practitioner (GP). The aim of the present paper is to study GPs' use of a hyperlink inserted into electronic test result communication.MethodsWe inserted a hyperlink into the electronic test result communication sent to the patients’ GPs who participated in a regional, systematic breast cancer screening program. The hyperlink target was a web-site with information on the breast cancer screening program and breast cancer in general. Different strategies were used to increase the GPs’ use of this hyperlink. The outcome measure was the GPs’ self-reported use of the link. Data were collected by means of a one-page paper-based questionnaire.ResultsThe response rate was 73% (n=242). In total, 108 (45%) of the GPs reported to have used the link. In all, 22% (n=53) of the GPs used the web-address from a paper letter and 37% (n=89) used the hyperlink in the electronic test result communication (Δ = 15%[95%confidence int erval(CI) = 8 − 22%P < 0.001]). We found no statistically significant associations between use of the web-address/hyperlink and the GP’s gender, age, or attitude towards mammography screening.ConclusionsThe results suggest that hyperlinks in electronic test result communication could be a feasible strategy for combining and sharing different types of healthcare information.
Highlights
We found no difference between the use of hyperlinks in paper letters (22%, n=53) and e-mails (19%, n=46) (P=0.318)
37% (n=89) had used the hyperlink in the electronic test result communication, which was significantly more than had used the link included in paper letters
Main findings We found that the general practitioner (GP) were using the hyperlink in the electronic test result communication more than the web-address contained in the paper letter or in an e-mail
Summary
Level B: information relevant to on a subcategory of humans, e.g. patients with breast cancer; often communicated via scientific articles and, increasingly, via the Internet. Level A: information relevant to on a specific patient, e.g. the results of mammogram; often kept in healthcare record systems. Recording, handling and sharing healthcare information is important in order to ensure high quality of delivered healthcare [2]. Some diseases and especially cancer pathways are complicated trajectories that involve multiple actors. This calls for continuously updated information and well-functioning communication channels to ensure due coordination, integration, effectiveness and shared decision-making. In Denmark, the general practitioner (GP) plays an important role in the patients' cancer pathways [3], not least because the GP serves as a gatekeeper to specialised healthcare. About 98% of Danish citizens are listed with a specific GP[4]
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