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Use of the Internet by parents of paediatric patients
Author(s) -
Wainstein Brynn K,
SterlingLevis Katy,
Baker Sally A,
Taitz Jonathan,
Brydon Michael
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00916.x
Subject(s) - medicine , the internet , family medicine , health care , health informatics , officer , informatics , medical information , health information , nursing , public health , electrical engineering , engineering , computer science , political science , law , economics , economic growth , world wide web
Aim: We aimed to determine the rate of Internet use for obtaining medical information by health‐care patients at a tertiary paediatric hospital, whether the Internet may influence patients’ attitudes to health‐care services and health‐care providers and whether patients would prefer the assistance of a professional informatics officer. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire randomly distributed to 450 subjects at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Results: A total of 294 (65%) questionnaires were returned. Overall Internet use for medical information was 64% (189/294). Most (97%; 183/189) respondents reported ‘wanting to know more’ as the reason they sought information on the Internet. Eighty‐eight per cent (167/189) of respondents reported that they trust their doctor more than the Internet. Twenty‐one per cent (39/189) had presented their doctor with information about which he/she was unaware and 18% (34/189) had altered a health‐care decision because of information found on the Internet. The Internet had influenced questions asked of doctors in 83% (156/189). Eighty‐six per cent (252/294) of all respondents were in favour of professional assistance to obtain medical information. Conclusion: A large number of patients use the Internet to find information that influences their attitudes to health care. The services of a medical informatics professional would likely benefit both patients and doctors.