Influential factors on physicians' behaviour towards the medical web messaging board: a qualitative exploration.

In the past, researches showed that patients expected to communicate with physicians through the internet, but physicians presented conservative attitudes. In this research, researchers interview 20 physicians who have communicated with patients through the medical web messaging board. The results reveal some factors that influence physicians' behaviour towards adopting it: in the personal aspect, physicians' slow typing skills in Chinese and patients' insufficient medical knowledge are factors. In the medical aspect, diseases changing with time, and the complexity of the medical knowledge are factors. In technological aspects, lack of instant response device and physical examination are factors. Thus, physicians avoid diagnosing through the online board. Physicians use the online board to educate and comfort patients.