Internet use by parents of children attending a dedicated scoliosis outpatient clinic

• Published in: European spine journal 2012-10, Vol.21 (10), p.1972-1977
• Main Authors: Baker, Joseph F., Devitt, Brian M., Lynch, Sam, Green, Connor J., Byrne, Damien P., Kiely, Patrick J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities - statistics & numerical data; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Data processing; Demography; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Information Dissemination - methods; Internet; Internet - utilization; Inventories; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurosurgery; Original; Original Article; Parents; Pediatrics; Scoliosis; Spine; Surgery; Surgical Orthopedics
• ISSN: 0940-6719; 1432-0932
• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-012-2429-2

Purpose No information exists on the level of internet use among parents of pediatric patients with scoliosis. The internet may represent a medium through which to provide information to augment the outpatient consultation. The aim of this research was to establish the prevalence of internet use amongst a cohort of parents attending a pediatric scoliosis outpatient clinic. Methods A previously used questionnaire (Baker et al., Eur Spine J, 19:1776–1779, 2010 ) was distributed to parents attending a dedicated scoliosis outpatient clinic with their children. Demographic data and details about use of the internet were collected. Results Fifty-eight percent of respondents had used the internet to search for information on scoliosis, and 94 % were interested in a local internet provided information provision. A positive history of corrective surgery and possession of health insurance were independent positive predictors of internet use. Conclusions As surgeons we need to be aware of our patients’ use of the internet, and there is the opportunity to use this medium to provide additional education.