Internet and social media research by parents of pediatric otolaryngologic patients

Abstract

PurposePublic access to medical information has increased dramatically with the growth and accessibility of the Internet. The goal of this study is to characterize how parents use the Internet to understand and make decisions about their child's otolaryngologic surgery. Materials and methodsA survey was distributed to parents of pediatric patients undergoing otolaryngologic procedures to assess if and how parents gather information about their child's surgery. Results105 parents completed the survey. 59.4% of parents gathered online information about their child's surgery. 86% of these parents used Google, 36% used YouTube, 16% used Wikipedia, and 9% used a hospital website. Most searched for general information about the surgery, followed by risks, pain/recovery, and specifics about the surgery. 69% reported that the information found influenced the healthcare decisions they made for their child. 86% felt the information was trustworthy. 21% discussed the information with their child's surgeon. 17% gathered information about their child's surgeon, of which 73% were interested in the surgeon's experience. 69% reported this influenced their choice of surgeon. ConclusionsMost parents of pediatric otolaryngologic patients use the Internet to gather information about their child's surgery, view that information as accurate, and use that information to make healthcare decisions. However, less than one quarter of parents discuss the information with their child's surgeon. It is critical to understand how parents use the Internet for healthcare information so otolaryngologists can better direct their patients' parents to appropriate and accurate resources.