Abstract
SummaryIntroduction and Aims: the Internet is the world's fastest growing source of health related information. Parents and guardians are increasingly turning to the Internet for information about their children's medical conditions and treatments. This paper has the following objectives 1) determine the prevalence of web searches for medical information performed by parents/guardians of children undergoing ENT surgery in a private hospital of Sao Paulo, Brazil. 2) assess whether the gathered information influenced the parents/guardians' decision on the treatment/surgery.Methodquestionnaire voluntarily responded by 132 parents/guardians of children submitted to ENT surgery in a private hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Conclusions117 parents/guardians (90%) used the Internet to search for information on the disease and surgical treatment of the children. Only 12 parents/guardians (10%) discussed the information with the physician assigned to perform the surgical procedure. 91 parents/guardians (78%) said that the information had impact upon the decision to have surgery performed on their children.
Highlights
The Internet is the fastest-growing source of healthrelated information
A study conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project observed that 93 million American adults have looked for information on health and specific disease treatment
That same poll found that 73% of the people looking for information on the Web believed they were better informed after reading the material they found in the Internet[1]
Summary
The Internet is the fastest-growing source of healthrelated information. A study conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project observed that 93 million American adults have looked for information on health and specific disease treatment. That same poll found that 73% of the people looking for information on the Web believed they were better informed after reading the material they found in the Internet[1]. There is no data in Brazil about the prevalence of Internet searches for health related information. The only available data is on access to the Web. According to a survey conducted by IBOPE (Instituto Brasileiro de Opinião Pública e Estatística - Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics) in March of 2008 21.1 million Brazilians had access to the Internet[2]
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