Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests

N. Nijland; J.E.W.C. van Gemert-Pijnen; S.M. Kelders; B.J. Brandenburg; E.R. Seydel

doi:10.3233/978-1-60750-588-4-821

Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests

N. Nijland^*, J.E.W.C. van Gemert-Pijnen, S.M. Kelders, B.J. Brandenburg, E.R. Seydel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

203 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

E-consultation in health care can be used to respond to an increasing demand for care by offering support on health-related requests. In this study we evaluated the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service in order to assess whether the service is efficient and useful. A content analysis of e-mail exchange between clients and online health professionals was performed to gain insight in the purposes of use of the service. Our findings show that the e-consultation service was used for health requests on not urgent, minor ailments. Clients asked for health information to increase knowledge on the cause of their injury or disease, its consequences, possible self-care solutions and treatment options. Decision support on assessing the necessity to visit a doctor for a certain health problem was another important reason to use the service. We believe that web-based triage systems could be used to more easily assess whether certain symptoms need to be investigated.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Medinfo 2010 - Proceedings of the 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics
Editors	C. Safran, S. Reti, H.F. Marin
Publisher	IOS
Pages	821-825
Number of pages	5
Volume	1
ISBN (Print)	9781607505877
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-60750-588-4-821
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2010
Event	13th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics, Medinfo 2010 - Cape Town, South Africa Duration: 12 Sept 2010 → 15 Sept 2010 Conference number: 13

Publication series

Name	Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
Publisher	IOS Press
Volume	160
ISSN (Print)	0926-9630
ISSN (Electronic)	1879-8365

Conference

Conference	13th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics, Medinfo 2010
Abbreviated title	Medinfo 2010
Country/Territory	South Africa
City	Cape Town
Period	12/09/10 → 15/09/10

Keywords

E-consultation
E-mail
Internet
Patient-provider communication
Primary care

Access to Document

10.3233/978-1-60750-588-4-821Licence: CC BY-NC

Nijland2010evaluationFinal published version, 157 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Nijland, N., van Gemert-Pijnen, J. E. W. C., Kelders, S. M., Brandenburg, B. J., & Seydel, E. R. (2010). Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests. In C. Safran, S. Reti, & H. F. Marin (Eds.), Medinfo 2010 - Proceedings of the 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics (Vol. 1, pp. 821-825). (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; Vol. 160). IOS. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-60750-588-4-821

Nijland, N. ; van Gemert-Pijnen, J.E.W.C. ; Kelders, S.M. et al. / Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests. Medinfo 2010 - Proceedings of the 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics. editor / C. Safran ; S. Reti ; H.F. Marin. Vol. 1 IOS, 2010. pp. 821-825 (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics).

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abstract = "E-consultation in health care can be used to respond to an increasing demand for care by offering support on health-related requests. In this study we evaluated the use of an {"}ask-the-expert{"} e-consultation service in order to assess whether the service is efficient and useful. A content analysis of e-mail exchange between clients and online health professionals was performed to gain insight in the purposes of use of the service. Our findings show that the e-consultation service was used for health requests on not urgent, minor ailments. Clients asked for health information to increase knowledge on the cause of their injury or disease, its consequences, possible self-care solutions and treatment options. Decision support on assessing the necessity to visit a doctor for a certain health problem was another important reason to use the service. We believe that web-based triage systems could be used to more easily assess whether certain symptoms need to be investigated.",

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Nijland, N, van Gemert-Pijnen, JEWC , Kelders, SM, Brandenburg, BJ & Seydel, ER 2010, Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests. in C Safran, S Reti & HF Marin (eds), Medinfo 2010 - Proceedings of the 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics. vol. 1, Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol. 160, IOS, pp. 821-825, 13th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics, Medinfo 2010, Cape Town, South Africa, 12/09/10. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-60750-588-4-821

Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests. / Nijland, N.; van Gemert-Pijnen, J.E.W.C.; Kelders, S.M. et al.
Medinfo 2010 - Proceedings of the 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics. ed. / C. Safran; S. Reti; H.F. Marin. Vol. 1 IOS, 2010. p. 821-825 (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; Vol. 160).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AU - van Gemert-Pijnen, J.E.W.C.

AU - Kelders, S.M.

AU - Brandenburg, B.J.

AU - Seydel, E.R.

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N2 - E-consultation in health care can be used to respond to an increasing demand for care by offering support on health-related requests. In this study we evaluated the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service in order to assess whether the service is efficient and useful. A content analysis of e-mail exchange between clients and online health professionals was performed to gain insight in the purposes of use of the service. Our findings show that the e-consultation service was used for health requests on not urgent, minor ailments. Clients asked for health information to increase knowledge on the cause of their injury or disease, its consequences, possible self-care solutions and treatment options. Decision support on assessing the necessity to visit a doctor for a certain health problem was another important reason to use the service. We believe that web-based triage systems could be used to more easily assess whether certain symptoms need to be investigated.

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ER -

Nijland N, van Gemert-Pijnen JEWC , Kelders SM, Brandenburg BJ, Seydel ER. Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests. In Safran C, Reti S, Marin HF, editors, Medinfo 2010 - Proceedings of the 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics. Vol. 1. IOS. 2010. p. 821-825. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics). doi: 10.3233/978-1-60750-588-4-821

Evaluation of the use of an "ask-the-expert" e-consultation service for support on health-related requests

Abstract

Publication series

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Keywords

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