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BackgroundThe advent of telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare consultations, primarily due to the digital era and global health concerns. Online healthcare communities (OHCs) have emerged as platforms for physicians to share health-related articles, promoting digital public health awareness and knowledge dissemination. The continuous dissemination of health knowledge by physicians online is considered a crucial driving force in attracting patients to seek online consultations.MethodsBased on the elaboration likelihood model and the information overload theory, this study explores how persuasive messages from other patients’ peer recognition, including knowledge popularity and attractiveness, affect patients’ consultation decisions. Additionally, the study examines the three-way interaction between knowledge popularity, attractiveness, and quantity in shaping patient consultations. Using data collected from 2,676 physicians on haodf.com, this study established an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model with time and city fixed effects to test the hypothesis.ResultsThe results show that: (1) peer recognition (knowledge popularity and attractiveness) from other patients positively impacts patients’ consultation; (2) knowledge attractiveness positively moderate the relationship between knowledge popularity and patients’ consultation; (3) there is a three-way effect of knowledge popularity, knowledge attractiveness, and knowledge quantity on patients’ consultation.ConclusionOur findings offer valuable guidance for platform design and healthcare practitioners, boosting patient-physician engagement in online healthcare communities.

Summary: Background: The survival rates of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have improved significantly, but there is no consensus on whether they can be considered cured. We aimed to determine whether a statistical cure could be achieved for patients with NPC in the contemporary therapeutic landscape. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 6315 patients with nonmetastatic NPC from nonendemic and endemic regions of China from 2007 to 2020. We applied mixture and nonmixture cure models to estimate the cure probabilities and cure times by incorporating background mortality for the general population, matching by gender, age, and diagnosed year. Findings: With death as the uncured event, the probability of patients with NPC achieving a life expectancy at par with the general population was 78.1%. Considering progression as the uncured event, the likelihood of patients attaining a life expectancy without progression equivalent to that of the general population was 72.4%. For individuals, the probabilities of achieving cure were conditional and time-dependent, requiring approximately 7.1 and 4.7 years with 95% certainty, respectively. The corresponding cure times for uncured patients were 8.9 and 6.8 years, respectively. The cure probability was correlated with age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, TNM staging, Epstein–Barr virus DNA copies, and lactate dehydrogenase. The correlation was excellent between 5-year overall survival/progression-free survival and cure fractions. Interpretation: Statistical cure is potentially achievable among patients with NPC undergoing contemporary treatment modalities. The results hold significant potential implications for both clinical practice and patient perspectives. Funding: National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding; Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation; Beijing hope run fund.

Orthognathic surgery, a multidisciplinary treatment for dentofacial deformities, presents complex preoperative preparations and follow-up procedures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ChatGPT-4, an artificial intelligence-based language model, as a supportive tool during patient consultations for orthognathic surgery. Nine critical questions that candidates for orthognathic surgery should ask during a consultation were identified and posed to ChatGPT-4. The responses were subsequently assessed by experienced plastic surgeons and collaborating orthodontists at a leading orthognathic surgery center. Evaluations focused on the accuracy, clarity, and comprehensibility of the information provided. ChatGPT-4 generated comprehensive, clear, and accurate responses, offering critical technical information to guide patients through the complexities of orthognathic surgery. However, it consistently underscored the necessity of individualized responses and emphasized that specialized medical consultation is crucial for treatment and follow-up plans. While ChatGPT-4 shows promise as a reliable informational resource, it cannot fully replace the nuanced physician-patient relationship, particularly in situations requiring emotional intelligence and specialized expertise. ChatGPT-4 can serve as an informative and guiding assistant during the consultation process for orthognathic surgery, although it cannot substitute for direct medical consultation. This tool could be an asset for both patients and physicians in managing the intricate treatment process of orthognathic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Complementary Medicine (CM) is widely used internationally but there is limited understanding of the forms of knowledge CM practitioners use in their clinical practice and how they use this knowledge in interactions with patients. This review aims to synthesise the existing evidence on the forms of knowledge that are mobilised, and the role of this knowledge in the interactions between practitioners and patients during CM consultations. It considered a diverse range of CM practice areas to develop a classification of CM practitioners’ knowledge use in consultations. Methods Systematic searches of health and sociology databases were conducted using core concepts, including complementary and alternative medicine, practitioners, and knowledge. Articles were included where they reported on data from recorded CM practitioner and patient consultations and offered insights into the types and applications of knowledge used in these consultations. 16 unique studies were included in the review. Data were extracted, coded and analysed thematically. Results Results demonstrate that diverse sources of knowledge were mobilised by practitioners, predominantly derived from the patients themselves –their bodies and their narratives. This reflected principles of patient-centredness. The use of discipline specific forms of knowledge and references to biomedical sources illustrated ongoing efforts towards legitimacy for CM practice. Conclusion CM practitioners are navigating tensions between what some might see as competing, others as complementary, forms of knowledge. The classification system provides a useful tool for promoting critically reflective practice by CM practitioners, particularly in relation to self-assessment of knowledge translation and patient interactions.

Plain English summary A “scoping review” is a type of study that collects and summarizes published and unpublished research reports to better understand the amount and types of information available on a particular topic. There is a well-known framework for how to conduct a scoping review, which involves six stages. The sixth stage is optional, and involves consulting with people who have an interest in the research results (i.e., people who the research is “about” or who it will affect the most). Very few scoping reviews actually include this stage, potentially due to a lack of practical guidance on how to perform it. For scoping reviews related to health research, it is important to consult or more widely engage patients and caregivers in the scoping review’s conduct because these individuals have a unique type of knowledge that comes from their experience of a health issue, which can yield valuable insights. Therefore, we have designed a scoping review that will identify the ways in which patients and caregivers have been engaged in scoping reviews of health research in the past. We hope to produce recommendations to make it easier for other researchers to engage patients and caregivers in scoping reviews.

Background. Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT), a newly developed pretrained artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, is able to interpret and respond to user-generated questions. As such, many questions have been raised about its potential uses and limitations. While preliminary literature suggests that ChatGPT can be used in medicine as a research assistant and patient consultant, its reliability in providing original and accurate information is still unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to conduct a review on the utility of ChatGPT in plastic surgery. Methods. On August 25, 2023, a thorough literature search was conducted on PubMed. Papers involving ChatGPT and medical research were included. Papers that were not written in English were excluded. Related papers were evaluated and synthesized into 3 information domains: generating original research topics, summarizing and extracting information from medical literature and databases, and conducting patient consultation. Results. Out of 57 initial papers, 8 met inclusion criteria. An additional 2 were added based on the references of relevant papers, bringing the total number to 10. ChatGPT can be useful in helping clinicians brainstorm and gain a general understanding of the literature landscape. However, its inability to give patient-specific information and act as a reliable source of information limit its use in patient consultation. Conclusion. ChatGPT can be a useful tool in the conception of and execution of literature searches and research information retrieval (with increased reliability when queries are specific); however, the technology is currently not reliable enough to be implemented in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complementary Medicine (CM) is widely used internationally but there is limited understanding of the forms of knowledge CM practitioners use in their clinical practice and how they use this knowledge in interactions with patients. This review aims to synthesise the existing evidence on the forms of knowledge that are mobilised, and the role of this knowledge in the interactions between practitioners and patients during CM consultations. It considered a diverse range of CM practice areas to develop a classification of CM practitioners' knowledge use in consultations. Methods: Systematic searches of health and sociology databases were conducted using core concepts, including complementary and alternative medicine, practitioners, and knowledge. Articles were included where they reported on data from recorded CM practitioner and patient consultations and offered insights into the types and applications of knowledge used in these consultations. 16 unique studies were included in the review. Data were extracted, coded and analysed thematically. Results: Results demonstrate that diverse sources of knowledge were mobilised by practitioners, predominantly derived from the patients themselves –their bodies and their narratives. This reflected principles of patient-centredness. The use of discipline specific forms of knowledge and references to biomedical sources illustrated ongoing efforts towards legitimacy for CM practice. Conclusion: CM practitioners are navigating tensions between what some might see as competing, others as complementary, forms of knowledge. The classification system provides a useful tool for promoting critically reflective practice by CM practitioners, particularly in relation to self-assessment of knowledge translation and patient interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scoping reviews of health research are increasing in popularity. However, only a minority of scoping reviews in this sector engage patients and caregivers as co-producers of the research. Despite developments in scoping review methodology, which insist that stakeholder consultation is essential, no guiding methods exist to instruct the conduct of this stage. Thus, it is necessary to understand how patients and caregivers have been engaged as part of scoping reviews, toward a unifying methodology. Methods: We have developed a protocol for a scoping review of methods used to engage patients and caregivers in scoping reviews of health research. The search strategy will comprise two phases: the first will involve a secondary analysis of retrieved articles from a prior scoping review, and the second will identify articles that cite Levac et al.'s update to the original scoping review framework by Arksey and O'Malley. Titles and full texts of retrieved articles will be screened in duplicate. Inclusion will be limited to articles related to heath research that follow the six-stage scoping review framework by Arksey and O'Malley and that report patient engagement activities during at least one stage. The method of analysis of charted variables will be decided once data have been collected. Two patients will be engaged as collaborators throughout this review. We will also consult with patients, caregivers, and researchers upon completion of preliminary analyses. Discussion: We anticipate that our scoping review will provide guidance for researchers seeking to involve health care stakeholders as co-producers of scoping reviews. Plain English summary: A "scoping review" is a type of study that collects and summarizes published and unpublished research reports to better understand the amount and types of information available on a particular topic. There is a well-known framework for how to conduct a scoping review, which involves six stages. The sixth stage is optional, and involves consulting with people who have an interest in the research results (i.e., people who the research is "about" or who it will affect the most). Very few scoping reviews actually include this stage, potentially due to a lack of practical guidance on how to perform it. For scoping reviews related to health research, it is important to consult or more widely engage patients and caregivers in the scoping review's conduct because these individuals have a unique type of knowledge that comes from their experience of a health issue, which can yield valuable insights. Therefore, we have designed a scoping review that will identify the ways in which patients and caregivers have been engaged in scoping reviews of health research in the past. We hope to produce recommendations to make it easier for other researchers to engage patients and caregivers in scoping reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) roles require a broad range of knowledge of both medical and surgical areas and the ability to work autonomously in a variety of settings. Despite around half of the UK adult population presenting with a skin condition requiring attention at some point, this is an area many ACPs feel unprepared to manage. However, due to the complexity and large number of potential diagnoses, it is imperative that ACPs develop their knowledge of skin conditions so that they can confidently conduct consultations with patients. This clinical review presents the key elements of patient consultation, history taking and assessment of the skin. This is designed to support novice ACPs, whether working in acute hospital settings or primary care, to develop an understanding of the key points that should be included when consulting with and assessing the skin of patients outwith the dermatology setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The survival rates of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have improved significantly, but there is no consensus on whether they can be considered cured. We aimed to determine whether a statistical cure could be achieved for patients with NPC in the contemporary therapeutic landscape., Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 6315 patients with nonmetastatic NPC from nonendemic and endemic regions of China from 2007 to 2020. We applied mixture and nonmixture cure models to estimate the cure probabilities and cure times by incorporating background mortality for the general population, matching by gender, age, and diagnosed year., Findings: With death as the uncured event, the probability of patients with NPC achieving a life expectancy at par with the general population was 78.1%. Considering progression as the uncured event, the likelihood of patients attaining a life expectancy without progression equivalent to that of the general population was 72.4%. For individuals, the probabilities of achieving cure were conditional and time-dependent, requiring approximately 7.1 and 4.7 years with 95% certainty, respectively. The corresponding cure times for uncured patients were 8.9 and 6.8 years, respectively. The cure probability was correlated with age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, TNM staging, Epstein-Barr virus DNA copies, and lactate dehydrogenase. The correlation was excellent between 5-year overall survival/progression-free survival and cure fractions., Interpretation: Statistical cure is potentially achievable among patients with NPC undergoing contemporary treatment modalities. The results hold significant potential implications for both clinical practice and patient perspectives., Funding: National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding; Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation; Beijing hope run fund., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: The aim of this multisite quality improvement study was to evaluate patients' experiences with the patient-centered pathology (PCP) consultation program and to determine whether PCP enhanced their care experience.Methods: Patients were invited to attend PCP consultations to review their pathology report and slides and have their questions answered by the pathologist privately, with the option to attend the appointment with family members or friends for support. A patient experience questionnaire (PEQ) was administered to patients, who participated voluntarily in the PCP, and survey data were collected and stored in REDCap. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute).Results: Sixty-seven patients (95.5% female) aged 18 to 84 years across 4 institutions completed the PEQ. Overall, 58% and 15.8% of patients had breast and brain tumors, respectively, and 59.7% of tumors were newly diagnosed. Most patients thought it was important for them to learn as much as they could about their health condition. However, the majority of patients reported some degree of difficulty learning about their health condition based on written information, despite 97% having completed high school and/or further education. The majority of patients rated their pathologist as "excellent" across communication metrics. Ultimately, 100% of respondents were satisfied, found their visits to be useful, and would recommend the PCP to other patients.Conclusions: Patients found that personalized clinical encounters with pathologists improved their understanding of their health condition and their satisfaction with their care experience. Patients thought pathologists communicated respectfully, effectively, and empathetically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Gaining insight into contextual factors and mechanisms supporting or hindering autonomy supportive consultation and into outcomes of such consultations.Methods: We conducted a systematic review using the realist synthesis procedure according to RAMESES guideline. A search was performed in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Cinahl from inception to March 2019 using the search terms: 'autonomy' AND 'support' AND 'consultation' OR 'communication' AND 'intervention'. The review process including paper selection, quality assessment, full text reading for data-extraction was conducted by two researchers independently.Results: Of 2792 articles, 18 met our inclusion criteria. Contextual factors influencing an autonomy supportive consultation were: work organization and the attitude of professionals. An overarching supporting mechanism for AS was relationship building. In addition, each phase of the decision-making process seems to need supporting mechanisms fulfilling patients 'specific psychological needs in that phase. The outcome of AS is higher levels of patient well-being.Conclusion: Autonomy supportive consultation works under various contexts coupled with mechanisms that give rise to favourable-outcomes, of which relationship building, taking time and exploring patients' needs seem the most important.Practice Implications: The results of our review facilitate professionals to reflect on their autonomy supportive consultation skills, which could improve their autonomy supportive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To report on our experience using a simple optional form to facilitate communication on late effects between the patients and the oncologists during outpatient follow-up and to detail on the spectrum of challenges reported by sarcoma survivors. Methods: The form was presented for the patients to complete before their consultation and covered topics related to late effects and unmet needs that the patient wished to discuss with the medical personnel. Logistic regression analysis examined how the distribution of the topics varied with age, gender, diagnosis and type of treatment received. Results: The form was manageable in a busy outpatient clinic. Of the 265 patients that received the form, 236 (89%) returned it. Patients in a palliative setting and those with other diagnosis than bone sarcoma (BS) and soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) were excluded for subsequent analyses. The final study-cohort comprised 160 patients, 54 (34%) with BS and 106 (66%) with STS. Among these, 140 (88%) had late-effect topics they wanted to discuss with their oncologist. Fatigue was raised by 39% of the patients, pain by 29% and impaired mobility by 23%. BS patients raised fatigue more often (P < 0.005) than those with STS. Patients who had undergone multimodal treatment with chemotherapy raised fatigue more frequently (P < 0.001) than those who had only undergone surgery, radiotherapy or both. Conclusions: A simple form on the long-term consequences of sarcoma treatment achieved a high response rate, was feasible to use in an outpatient clinic and facilitated communication on these issues. Fatigue was the most frequent topic raised and it was raised significantly more often in patients who had undergone chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper presents findings from a study on the ways in which counsellors working at national centres for rare disorders in Norway experience preparing, and being prepared for, a face-to-face patient consultation. The research involved semi-structured interviews with five experienced counsellors from different health professional backgrounds working at two separate centres. These interviews were then analysed with reference to the theoretical insights of phenomenologists. The excerpts chosen for this paper shed particular light on the process of preparing for a face-to-face patient consultation. Our findings underline the significance of preparing and being prepared while also drawing attention to the multifaceted, complex and ambiguous nature of the processes involved. Preparing for face-to-face consultations with patients is revealed to require approaches that are thoughtful, flexible and empathic. To be prepared for something one does not yet know is about being open to the unexpected and the unpredictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicines use and safety division of the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service in England has created a variety of tools for use in primary and secondary care, including those developed during learning events and in clinical practice. The work is enhanced through collaboration with other professional groups and multidisciplinary colleagues to consider the different ways in which a tool might be developed. The following paper describes the development of a clinical tool, which improves the safety and quality of medications-related care and was co-created by pharmacists, speech and language therapists and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This review examines the use and effectiveness of Question Prompt Lists (QPL) as communication aids to enhance patient question asking, information provision to patients and patient participation in health and medical consultations. Methods A systematic search was undertaken to identify relevant literature concerning QPLs including academic databases, Google-based and snowball searching. Forty-two relevant studies reporting 50 interventions were identified. Results Although findings varied there was some evidence that a QPL endorsed by the physician increased total question asking. Using a QPL increased question asking concerning specific content areas (e.g. prognosis). There was some evidence that physicians provided more information during consultations. There were no consistent findings concerning effects on patient knowledge recall, anxiety and satisfaction or consultation time. Some interventions that increased question asking had longer consultation times. Conclusion There is evidence that an appropriate QPL, endorsed by the physician and provided immediately before the consultation, may increase patient question asking and lead to more information being provided by the physician. Practice implications There is increasing evidence to support QPL use in routine practice. Further trials might address the issues identified including an assessment of QPL optimal length and QPL adaptation for cultural and special needs groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to evaluate patient involvement (consultation and direct participation) in the assessment of alternative measures to restraint and seclusion among adults in short-term hospital wards (in psychiatry) and long-term care facilities for the elderly. Methods: We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with thirteen stakeholders: caregivers, healthcare managers, patient representatives, health technology assessment (HTA) unit members, researchers, and members of the local HTA scientific committee. Data were collected until saturation. We carried out content analysis of two HTA reports and four other documents that were produced in relation with this HTA. We also used field notes taken during formal meetings and informal discussions with stakeholders. We performed thematic analysis based on a framework for assessing patient involvement in HTA. We then triangulated data. Results: For the majority of interviewees, patient consultation enriched the content of the HTA report and its recommendations. This also made it possible to suggest other alternatives that could reduce the use of restraint and seclusion and helped confirm some views and comments from healthcare professionals consulted in this HTA. The direct participation of patient representatives enabled rephrasing of some findings so as to bring the patient perspective to the HTA report. Conclusions: Patient consultation was seen as having directly influenced the content of the HTA report while direct participation made it possible to rephrase some findings. This is one of few studies to assess the impact of patient involvement in HTA and more such studies are needed to identify the best ways to improve the input of such involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular patients consultations are important elements of intervention programs that try to reduce incidence of chronic diseases and lower related healthcare expenses. Tablet computer offer novel approaches for design and delivery of services like intervention consultations. In case of the INVADE intervention program, a shared tablet computer is introduced to promote consultations between patients and assistant nurses. Following a Design Science approach, three iterations of building the application prototype have been completed and are described along with results from prototype evaluation. The paper at hand is focused on the implementation of the desired IT-artifact and we reflect on the application development process. We contribute to the understanding of building mobile applications for co-located service delivery that are designed to foster interaction and support communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pre-travel consultation should be a health-promotion activity where a thorough risk assessment is carried out and risk management discussed. Travellers should be helped to make appropriate choices about vaccination and prophylaxis, but also to fully understand the management of all other risks identified in relation to their travel plans. This article discusses the important aspects of the pre-travel risk assessment and risk management, and suggests resources to assist the process. INSETS: Case study 1;Case study 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 epidemic put pressure on the traditional healthcare system and offline consultation methods. Telemedicine platforms provide a more convenient and safer channel for online health communication. Based on the signaling theory, our study explores the impacts of three dimensions of physicians' service quality (need fulfillment, security, and responsiveness) on online patient consultation on telemedicine platforms. A negative binomial model was used to test cross-sectional data of 2982 physicians obtained from Haodf.com. The results show the following: (1) the need fulfillment dimension variables positively affect online patient consultation; (2) the security dimension variables positively affect online patient consultation; (3) the responsiveness dimension variables positively affect online patient consultation. Our results contribute to the theoretical aspect of signaling theory and service quality in the context of telemedicine platforms and have several practical implications for telemedicine platform physicians and platform operators.

In primary care, a crossover of role boundaries between GPs and advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) has led to a lack of role definition. This article analyses the findings from a study that attempted to define the distinctiveness of the ANP and GP roles. Two ANPs and two GPs from a training practice took part in the study. Consultations were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a qualitative methodology. Patient conversations were divided into six phases of the consultation: opening; history-taking; physical examination; diagnosis; management; and closing. Practitioner-patient interactions and behaviour were examined in each of the phases. Two typical extracts are highlighted: one between a GP and patient, and the other between an ANP and patient. ANPs interwove expert nursing skills throughout each interview, making their nursing identity clearly visible to patients. This study identified that GPs work in a different style to that of nurses, with ANPs working to diminish social distance from patients rather than creating it; this positions ANPs more in line with nursing than with medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper examines multiparty conflict talk in a pharmacy patient consultation involving a patient, a novice pharmacist, and later, an experienced pharmacist. Using conversation analysis (Sacks, Schegloff, and Jefferson, 1974) and Goffman''s (1981) notion of participation framework, I describe conflict emergence and resolution while also paying attention to issues of alignment (Maynard, 1986). I show that conflict talk initiation is incipient and gradual, and the participants continue to orient to the conflict long after it is resolved. During this multiparty conflict talk episode, participants performed alignment in delicate ways: they may align with one participant without simultaneously distancing from the other directly, and they may invoke the authority of a non-present party in order to avoid contesting a present party explicitly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It has been argued that being able to utilize expertise in discourse is as important as having expertise (C. Candlin and S. Candlin 2002). From a constructivist perspective, knowledgeability does not exist outside of social interaction: being expert involves performing knowledge and skills effectively in social practices (cf. Butler 1990; Lave and Wenger 1991). It is, then, crucial that novice professionals develop the interactional competence to construct themselves as experts in interaction. This study brings together perspectives from research on expert–lay communication, social interaction, and situated learning to examine how a pharmacy intern performed his professional knowledge in the practice of patient consultation over time. Using conversation analysis complemented by the interactional competence framework (Hall 1995; Young 2002), I demonstrate that as the novice pharmacist gained more experience over the course of one internship, he was able to employ professional knowledge in ways that were sensitive to the sequential organization of talk, and to share the patients' lifeworld perspectives (Mishler 1984) more effectively, thus successfully managing the transactional and interpersonal functions of the consultations. This study contributes to research on expert–lay interaction, particularly in pharmacy, and to the under-studied area of interactional competence development in the professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the rapid development of information technology and web-based communities, a growing number of patients choose to consult physicians in online health communities (OHCs) for information and treatment. Although extant research has primarily discussed factors that influence the consulting choices of OHC patients, there is still a lack of research on the effects of log-in behaviors and web reviews on patient consultation.Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of physicians' log-in behavior and web reviews on patient consultation.Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study to examine the effects of physicians' log-in behaviors and web reviews on patient consultation by analyzing short-panel data from 911 physicians over five periods in a Chinese OHC.Results: The results showed that the physician's log-in behavior had a positive effect on patient consultation. The maximum number of days with no log-ins for a physician should be 20. The two web signals (log-in behavior and web reviews) had no complementary relationship. Moreover, the offline signal (ie, offline status) has different moderating effects on the two web signals, positively moderating the relationship between web reviews and patient consultation.Conclusions: Our study contributes to the eHealth literature and advances the understanding of physicians' web-based behaviors. This study also provides practical implications, showing that physicians' log-in behavior alone can affect patient consultation rather than complementing web reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the satisfaction level of inquirers of an internet-based drug information centre along with the internet usage abilities and habits of individuals who had previously utilised services from an internet-based drug information centre in Turkey., Methods: The first 100 individuals who received medication consultancy from the webpage entitled "www.ilacpedia.com" and consented to participate in the study were included in this study. This website is an internet-based drug information centre. Participants' data were collected using a participant data form and the Internet Self-efficacy Scale., Results: The mean age of participants was 37.92 ± 12.32 years (71 female). It was found that 89% of the individuals who received pharmaceutical consultation from the internet-based drug information service believed that the information that they received was enough to solve their problem. The internet self-efficacy scale scores indicated the highest score on the decomposition subscale (20.94 ± 6.18) and the lowest on the communication subscale (9.77 ± 3.57)., Conclusions: The present study revealed that the internet-based drug information service provided by clinical pharmacists contributed positively to users' satisfaction, thus indicating the importance of the involvement of clinical pharmacists in this process.

Introduction: Modern tablet PCs as the iPad are becoming more and more integrated into medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the display quality of iPads regarding digital mammography. Materials and Methods: Three experienced readers compared the display quality of the iPad 2 and 3 with a dedicated 10 megapixel (MP) mammography liquid crystal display (LCD) screen in consensus using the standardized Contrast Detail Mammography (CDMAM) phantom. Phantom fields without agreement between the readers were classified as "uncertain", correct 2 : 1 decisions were classified as "uncertain/readable". In a second step display quality of the three reading devices was judged subjectively in a side by side comparison. Results: The 10 MP screen was superior to both iPads in 4 (phantom-)fields and inferior in 2 fields. Comparing the iPads, version 3 was superior in 4 fields and version 2 was superior in 1 field. However these differences were not significant. Total number of "uncertain" fields did not show significant differences. The number of "uncertain" fields was 15 with the 10 MP screen, 16 with the iPad 2 and 17 with the iPad 3 (p > 0.05), the number of "uncertain/readable" fields was 4, 7 and 8, respectively. Subjective image quality of the iPad 3 and the 10 MP screen was rated superior to the iPad 2. Conclusion: The evaluated iPads, especially in version 3, seem to be adequate to display mammograms in a diagnostic quality and thus could be useful e.g. for patient consultation, clinical demonstration or educational and teaching purposes. However primary mammogram reading should still be performed on dedicated large sized reading screens.