Are you in contact with your physician via E-mail?

The modern physician is also a digitized doctor in 2011. When something itches, hurts, or does not work the way it should, more Danes choose to send their doctor an email rather than telephoning. According to a study conducted by Professor Kim Normann Andersen  at the Department of IT-Management , 500% more patients use email today than in 2006.

The elderly, in particular, have begun to use the Internet – and not only when it comes to e-mail consultations. We are also much better at using the Internet in general to search for health-related information. In 2009/2010 46% of the Danish population used the Internet to search for answers related to their health-related questions. This represents an increase of 70% since 2006.

Double channels=more expenses

It is not always good that we have become more digital. In fact, according to Kim Normann Andersen, if this trend continues, it can significant financial consequences since the 60-74 year old age group is growing dramatically.

- Even though it is less expensive for the public health service to refund email consulations (DKK 40,72) than office visits (DKK 129,52), most of the elderly consider the best option is to use both channels of communication. This group comprises over 6 million daytime visits. When one adds telephone consulations and even consulations, the total rises to 15 million consulations annually. Therefore it is not unlikely that the public health service will face financial pressure, states Kim Normann Andersen.

Difference between urban and rural areas

There are great regional differences in the use of the Internet for health-related matters, but a surprising result of the analysis is that despite a general growth in all regions, it would seem that differences between rural and urban area Internet use are not evening out, but rather increase nominally .

- When it comes to email consultation usage, those who live in Middle Jutland and residents in the capital city lead. When we adjust for differences in number of residents, citizens who live in Middle Jutland use e-mail consulations 13% more than national average, while the Southern Region of Denmark is situated at 22% under the national average, according to Kim Normann Andersen.

Contact: Professor Kim Normann Andersen, e-mail: andersen@cbs.dk, telephone: 2479-4328