E-health and health care behaviour of parents of young children: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: Internet plays a huge role in providing information about health care problems. However, it is unknown how parents use and perceive the internet as a source of information and how this influences health care utilisation when it comes to common complaints in infants. The objective was to evaluate the perception parents have on the role of internet in providing health care information on common symptoms in infants and its effects on health care utilisation. Design: A qualitative design was chosen. Setting and subjects: Parents were recruited from a population-based birth-cohort and selected purposefully. Main outcome measures: Semi-structured interviews were used to receive information of parentsʼ ideas. Thematic coding and constant comparison were used for interview transcript analysis. Results: Ten parents were interviewed. Parents felt anxious and responsible when their child displayed common symptoms, and appeared to be in need of information. They tried to obtain information from relatives, but more so from the internet, because of its accessibility. Nevertheless, information found on the internet had several limitations, evoked new doubts and insecurity and although parents compared information from multiple sources, only the physician was able to take away the insecurity. The internet did not interfere in the decision to consult the physician. Conclusions: Parents need information about their childrenʼs symptoms and the internet is a major resource. However, only physicians could take away their symptom-related doubts and insecurities and internet information did not play a role in parental decision making. Information gathered online may complement the information from physicians, rather than replace it.

Key Points

• Internet plays an increasing role in providing health care information but it is unknown how this influences health care utilisation.

• Our study suggests that:

• Parents need information about their children’s symptoms and the internet is a major resource.

• However, only physicians could take away their symptom-related doubts and insecurities.

• Internet information did not play a role in parental decision making.

Keywords:

• Consultation
• common illnesses
• general practice
• pediatrics
• primary care
• procedures
• The Netherlands

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the parents who participated in the research.

Disclosure statement

Cornelis K. van der Ent has received unrestricted research grants from GlaxoSmithKline and Grunenthal. Theo J.M. Verheij received unrestricted research grants and fees for participation on an advisory board from Pfizer. The other authors declare no conflicts of interests.

Funding information

The WHISTLER study is supported by grants from The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZON-MW, no. 80-82315-98-09008), by the University Medical Center Utrecht and by an unrestricted research grant from Glaxo Smith Kline, The Netherlands. The funding agencies did not have any role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data and the writing of the article and the decision to submit it for publication.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the local medical ethics committee (UMC Utrecht) and all the parents signed for informed consent.