GPs who did not use text messaging (n = 26)
| Survey question | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Sex | |
| Male | 16 (61) |
| Female | 10 (38) |
| Advantages to text messaging | |
| Time management | 13 (50) |
| Convenient | 4 (15) |
| Cost-effective | 4 (15) |
| None | 3 (11) |
| Effective | 1 (4) |
| Avoid telephone ‘ping pong’ (where GP phones and leaves a message, patient returns call but GP cannot answer, repeatedly) | 1 (4) |
| Disadvantages to text messaging | |
| Confidentiality | 18 (69) |
| Text messaging conversation might follow | 2 (8) |
| Consent | 2 (8) |
| Increased patient anxiety | 1 (4) |
| Changing phone numbers | 1 (4) |
| Unnecessary | 1 (4) |
| Lack of feedback | 1 (4) |
| If an IT provider set it up, would you use text messaging? | |
| Yes | 12 (46) |
| No | 14 (54) |
| If ICGP/MPS/Medisec endorsed text messaging, would you use text messaging? | |
| Yes | 14 (54) |
| No | 11 (42) |
| Maybe | 1 (4) |
ICGP = Irish College of General Practitioners. MPS = Medical Protection Society.