Telemedicine and doctor-patient communication: an analytical survey of theliterature

The literature about the effect of telemedicine on doctor-patient communica tion was reviewed. A total of 38 studies were identified: six were surveys of provider and community attitudes; 21 were post-encounter surveys of part icipants in a medical consultation; and 11 were qualitative analyses of beh aviour in a medical encounter. Twenty-one of the 38 investigations originat ed in the USA, six in the UK, four in Australia, three in Norway, two in Ca nada, one in Finland and one in Sweden. All were relatively recent. The fin dings from each study were coded according to 23 categories developed from the literature and a positive or negative rating was assigned to each of th e 213 communication results. Approximately 80% of abstracted findings favou red telemedicine, with all but two of the 23 categories analysed (non-verba l behaviour and lack of touch) reporting more positive than negative result s. Verbal content analysis is important for the development of intervention s aimed at facilitating doctor-patient telecommunication. However, further research is necessary if the nature and content of the communication proces s are to be fully understood.