Journal of medical Internet research
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J. Med. Internet Res. · Jul 2000
Anesthesiologists' responses to an email request for advice from an unknown patient.
People are using the Internet as a method of getting medical advice. Some Web sites include the email addresses of physicians, and some people are contacting these physicians for advice. As many patients undergo surgery on a "day surgery" basis, they often have no opportunity to ask anesthesiologists for advice before surgery; these patients may be more likely than other groups to use Internet email to ask questions. It seemed that it would be useful to find out what, if any, advice anesthesiologists would give in response to email from an unknown patient. ⋯ At present, patients who email an unknown anesthesiologist can expect to get a reply from over half. The advice is likely to be prompt, friendly, and to provide accurate and appropriate--but probably incomplete--advice.