GP Poll Shows High Awareness of Broadband

81% of English GPs claim awareness of broadband, but they are less knowledgeable about its applications and sceptical about its power to improve the patient’s experience of the NHS, according to an NOP Poll.

NOP interviewed 101 GPs in mid-December 2002 using the GPnet omnibus research panel. Asked to rate the importance of broadband benefits in marks out of 10, the GPs rated “Reduced surfing time when researching on the Internet” as the top advantage with 8.22 marks.

“Allowing patients to access their own medical records” came bottom with a 3.68 rating, closely followed by “Enabling patients to pre-book appointments” with 4.63 marks out of 10.

Other ratings in descending order were:
Faster access to test results and medical records 8.25
Greater reliability of connection 7.97
Frees up telephone line 7.05
Greater security 6.70
Access to online training 6.60
Videoconferencing with experts 6.24
Potential cost saving 5.99
e-Prescribing 5.86
More likely to share best practice with others 5.29
Access to better quality research 5.25

Andy Mayer, NOP group business analyst commented, “GPs are in the frontline of the NHS’s relationship with patients. While it is excellent news for Broadband Britain that so many are broadband aware and looking forward to more productive use of the Internet, the NHS has much to do to win them over to spreading the benefits to the patients.”

NOP will be tracking GP attitudes to broadband on a monthly basis. Details of the survey are available at http://www.nop.co.uk/broadband/broadband_results.shtml#q1