Parents' use of the Internet and social media as a source of information on health and parenting.

Abstract

Introduction. The Internet and social media have revolutionized access to information on health and parenting issues. Virtual consultations are spreading worldwide, are increasing, and represent a challenge for professional practice. Objective. To characterize the use of the Internet and social media by mothers and fathers as a source of information on the health and parenting of their children. Population and methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional study in an outpatient pediatric center in the City of Buenos Aires to determine the online consultation habits of caregivers of healthy children or children with health problems. Results. Two hundred-one surveys were analyzed, and the answers were predominantly from mothers of healthy children; 70.6% search online for health and parenting topics; 80% consult more than once a month. Although 36% of the families use the information to complement the medical consultation, 95% would not replace the pediatric consultation with the online search. The participants are not in the habit of following official pages, nor do they tend to verify the veracity of the contents. The search topics are related to the child's age, and satisfaction with the information results are modified according to whether the child is healthy or has a health problem. Only 4.7% responded that the search always answers their questions. Conclusions. Caregivers frequently seek online parenting and health information, but the sources are not always reliable. Although consultation with pediatricians is not displaced, we need to know the impact of online information on health decision-making. Pediatricians can intervene and guide caregivers to safe sources.