Exploring Internet Health Information Seeking Behavior of Caregivers in a Tertiary Pediatric Outpatient Setting in Eastern India.

Abstract

Introduction: To study internet health information-seeking behavior and its determinants among caregivers in a tertiary Pediatric Outpatient Department (OPD) in Eastern India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2022 at the Pediatric Outpatient Department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deoghar, India. A 13-item validated questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews, capturing demographic information and internet health information-seeking behavior. Statistical analyses, including multivariable logistic regression, identified significant determinants.

Results: Outpatient visits were primarily for acute diseases (39.3%), followed by chronic disease monitoring (19.5%) and acute follow-ups (19.3%). Approximately 34.4% of caregivers sought health information online. Internet health information-seeking behavior was significantly associated with higher educational attainment and visit reasons. Caregivers with higher secondary education or graduate degrees were 7.5 and 7.6 times more likely, respectively, to seek health information online. Those attending for acute or acute follow-up visits had 2.2- and 3.5-times higher odds, respectively. The multivariable model explained 32.4% variability and had a predictive accuracy of 74.1%.

Discussion: The relatively low prevalence of online health information-seeking highlights regional gaps in digital health literacy. Education level and visit type were key predictors, underscoring the need for targeted guidance. Findings are limited by self-reporting and single-center design but offer direction for integrating digital support into pediatric care.

Conclusion: One-third of caregivers utilized the internet for children's health information, with higher education and acute visit reasons as key determinants.