Workflow, implementation and attitudes among family physicians using electronic communication with patients: results from a cross-sectional survey (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The use of electronic communication between physicians and patients remains limited in some regions due to workflow challenges and lack of practical guidance on implementation. OBJECTIVE This study investigates reasons for, workloads, workflows and satisfaction related to electronic communication between physicians and patients in Ontario, Canada to inform broader electronic communication adoption in primary care. METHODS From June to August 2017, family physicians from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada were asked to fill-out an electronically disseminated 47-item questionnaire that surveyed their practices regarding electronic communication use with patients. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests and t-tests (P