Evalution der elterlichen Recherche bezüglich medizinischer Informationen bei Aufsuchen der kinderorthopädischen SprechstundeSchwerpunkt Internetinformationen

Purpose: Everyday several million people are seeking for responses to medical problems via the internet. In particular parents, whose children are affected by systemic diseases, orthopaedic defective positions, anomalies or deformities, use the internet to increase their knowledge. The obtained information is often reported to the treating physician and is possibly influencing ongoing therapy. Concerning this matter there is lack of studies in the current literature. Methods: We investigated parental preparation to our outpatient paediatric orthopaedic consultation at the University Hospital of Marburg with respect to internet enquiries or further sources of information using a standardised questionnaire. We assessed age and educational background of the parents, local hardware equipment and general habits of internet use. We retrieved parental use of search machines (e.g. Google.de, Yahoo.de), general medical websites (e.g. netdoktor.de) and websites from self-help groups (e.g. klumpfusskinder.de) in relation to the disorder of their children. Results: In total, we evaluated 264 questionnaires. 82% of the parents in our study population had access to the internet. Young age of the parents and higher educational background significantly correlated with previous preparation to our consultation via internet (p<0,05). Those parents in particular frequented the internet search machine Google.de (89%). In clubfeet (34%) and scoliosis (10%) we observed a tendency of parents to frequent websites from self-help groups. The family doctor/ paediatrician (n=174), circle of acquaintances (n=56) and reading of learned journals (n=53) were mentioned as further sources of information prior to consultation at our Department. Conclusions: In particular young parents with higher educational background tend to enlarge their knowledge via internet, in case of their child being affected by systemic disease, orthopaedic anomalies or deformities. The paediatric orthopaedic surgeon will be increasingly confronted with the results of parental internet enquiries.