Table 3.

Physician Self-Reported Log on Non–E-Mail and E-mail Messages from Patients

Log EntriesE-mail PhysicianControl Physician
WeekE-1E-2E-3E-4AverageC-1C-2C-3C-4Average
Number of non–e-mail messages115417951523372
24647806045283152
33228103312157
    Average3138.687.347.351.139.340.3
Average time/day spent addressing messages (in minutes)1112936.2602027.42885
2153563.45620.41929.250
3102940.6627.68.75550
    Average123146.759.337.322.518.337.461.735
Average time per message (in minutes)13.73.52.35.91.92.84.25.9
21.63.73.94.72.33.44.75.0
31.565.11.96.01.84.83.8
    Average2.34.12.75.53.72.04.64.93.8
Number of e-mails in 6 months801212870
Number of e-mails per week0 to 11 to 40 to 50 to 1
Approximate time per e-mail (in minutes)1 to 31 to 31 to 21 to 5