| The focus of this field project was to identify the inhibitors to the use of secure messaging (SM) and online consultation (OC) in healthcare. This research was conducted using mixed methods. In phase one, physicians from practices across the US were interviewed using a semi structured ethnographic active interviewing protocol. As follow-up to the qualitative study and analysis, a mail survey was developed and administered to a random sample of 500 physicians from the Allegheny County Medical Society to compare and converge with the qualitative data. The survey of physicians had a 32% response rate. Results of this study organize the qualitative findings into six major categories of inhibitors to the use of secure messaging and online consultation: cultural inhibitors; financial issues; patient care issues; social issues; legal inhibitors; and technology inhibitors. Quantitative data was used to confirm and converge with qualitative findings. This study provides data to physicians, third party payers, government policy makers, and information systems and communications staffs in the healthcare industry to more objectively address the sociological, legal, and technical barriers to the adoption of SM and OC electronic healthcare applications. |
