10.1177/1049732305284667 ARTICLE QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH / February 2006 Andreassen et al. / E-MEDIATED DOCTOR-PATIENT COMMUNICATION Patients Who Use E-Mediated Communication With Their Doctor: New Constructions of Trust in the Patient-Doctor Relationship Hege K. Andreassen Marianne Trondsen Per Egil Kummervold Deede Gammon Per Hjortdahl The introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) into the patient- doctor relationship represents a significant change in modern health care. Communication via computers—e-mediated communication—is affecting the context of patient-doctor interaction, touching core elements of the relationship. Based on data from a qualitative study conducted among Norwegian patients who had used ICT to communicate with their doctors, the authors argue that patients’ use of ICT and the element of trust in the patient- doctor relationship influence each other. Furthermore, they contend that patients’ construc- tions of trust in this relationship can be understood in light of basic mechanisms in modern society. The study sheds light on some potential concerns and benefits as communication technology increasingly is integrated into the patient-doctor relationship. Keywords: information and communication technology; e-mail; trust; doctor-patient interaction; doctor-patient relationship S urveys in Norway have shown that nearly half of the Norwegian population would like the option of communicating with their doctor through information and communication technologies (ICT) (Andreassen, Sandaune, Gammon, & Hjortdahl, 2002). However, some authors express concern that ICT will not only be difficult to manage and fuel unnecessary demand but might also undermine impor- tant aspects of the patient-doctor relationship (see, e.g., Jenssen, Kleven, & Gammon, 2002, for an overview). Others have emphasized the empowering potentials for patients, as well as effectiveness and flexibility in the interaction (Dickerson & Brennan, 2002; Jadad, 1999; Pal, 1999; Safran, 2003; Shine, 1996; Street, 2003). The majority of literature on e-mediated patient-doctor interaction is written from med- ical and administrative perspectives (Katz, Moyer, Cox, & Stern, 2003; Miller, 2002; Patt, Houston, Jenckes, Sands, & Ford, 2003). There is an apparent gap between patients’ desire for e-communication with health care providers and providers’ willingness to use such tools when communicating with their patients (Patt et al., 238 QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH, Vol. 16 No. 2, February 2006 238-248 DOI: 10.1177/1049732305284667 © 2006 Sage Publications