TABLE OF CONTENTS ACTION POINTS 6 Scope of the report 6 Two key things you need to know about practice websites 6 Significant penetration rates in Germany, Italy and the US reflect the positive attitude towards the value of practice websites. Pharmaceutical companies should utilize their existing relationships between sales representatives and physicians to raise awareness of practice websites among physicians and build on sponsorship opportunities 7 Practice websites which feature secure patient-physician communication tools are relatively uncommon. However, stakeholders should examine the key components of practice websites and prepare for growth in the availability of communications tools 8 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE WEBSITES 10 Introduction 10 Market overview 10 Physicians and practice websites 11 Ownership rates 11 Physician attitudes towards practice websites 12 Developing website formula 14 Administrative features 15 Patient-facing information features 18 Patient-physician communication features 20 Opportunities for pharmaceutical companies 21 Pharmaceutical sponsorship to date 21 Utilizing sales representatives 23 Partnership opportunities 23 Country analysis 24 France 24 Practice websites only include basic administrative features 25 Germany 27 Administrative features are complemented with patient-facing information 28 Italy 29 Patient-facing information is a priority on practice website in Italy 30 Spain 30 Patient-physician communications are important to Spanish physicians 31 UK 32 UK physicians rate communication tools low 33 US 34 Practice websites provide patient health information 35 Datamonitor’s physician survey 36 Physicians that work in a practice with more than one physician are less likely to value practice websites 37 Physicians whose practice is located in the North Central Region of the US are more likely to value practice websites 37 Physicians who report an increase in the number of patient requests for specific Internet-related services over the last three years are more likely to value practice websites 38 Physicians who would like the Internet to have a role in their relationship with patients by offering them the opportunity to schedule their appointments online or exchange emails are more likely to value practice websites 39 THE FUTURE DECODED 41 Will national eHealth initiatives drive adoption? 41 Will practice management vendors drive adoption? 42 APPENDIX 44 List of figures 44 List of tables 45 Research methodology 46 Physician Insight Survey 2003 46 Study sample 46 The questionnaire 46 How to contact experts in your industry 48
