The effects of a web-based tool on patient-provider communication and satisfaction with hormone therapy: A randomized evaluation

Objective: To assess the effect of an Internet-based questionnaire used by a patient to generate customized data and questions about menopausal hormone therapy (HT) on patient-provider communication and satisfaction. Methods: A controlled, randomized evaluation of the TalkToYourDoc(sm) (TTYD) website module for 288 women born between 1930 and 1960 and 26 healthcare providers in an academic, outpatient setting. Women were randomized after stratification by HT use to usual care or access to the website. After inputting information into the module, the patient participant is provided a printout of customized medical history and questions about HT for her to take to the medical care visit. Outcomes include measures of communication and satisfaction parameters from postvisit surveys of both patient participants and provider participants. Results: Provider participants reported that intervention women were significantly more engaged in the discussion (p = 0.05) and asked more relevant questions regarding HT (p = 0.03). Providers had a higher level of satisfaction with the discussion with intervention participants (p = 0.01), and thought that these office visits were more efficient (p = 0.04). Intervention compared with usual care women were more likely to come prepared with appropriate questions to the clinic appointment (96% vs. 80%). Patient participants found that the website was easy to use, that the questions generated were useful for discussion of HT, and that providers had a positive response to the printout. Conclusions: The web-based module increased patient preparedness for discussion and enhanced providers' perception of patient engagement, relevance, and appropriateness of discussion on HT and increased visit efficiency.