Publication type: Conference poster
Type of review: Peer review (abstract)
Title: “Dear Internet, what should I do when…?” : parents’ digital media behaviour when searching for information on children’s health in Switzerland
Authors: Dratva, Julia
Baumann, Isabel
Jaks, Rebecca
Robin, Dominik
Juvalta, Sibylle
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cky218.233
Published in: European Journal of Public Health
Volume(Issue): 28
Issue: suppl 4
Page(s): 489
Conference details: 11th European Public Health Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 28 November - 1 December 2018
Issue Date: 2018
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Oxford University Press
ISSN: 1101-1262
1464-360X
Language: English
Subject (DDC): 302: Social interaction
610: Medicine and health
Abstract: Background Little is known on parental use of digital media when it comes to children’s health, we investigated how parents utilize digital media in this context, when and how they assess the trustworthiness of information. Methods A random sample of parents with children age 0-2.5 yrs. received an online and paper questionnaire on use of digital media on child health, child and parental socio- demographic and health and the German eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Qualitative data was collected in a focus group. Descriptive and regression analyses are planned. Results Participation rate was 40% (394 online, 338 on paper). Preliminary results relate to online sample: 337 mothers and 57 fathers; mean age 35.8 sd 3.7 and 38.2 sd 6.4, respectively; mean age of youngest child 14.7 months, sd 7.1; number of children 1.6, sd 0.7. 34% of parents searching for general child health information used print media. 92% used digital media, reasons being 24/7 availability (76%), up to date information (34%) good experience (34%). 24% of parents searching for information on acute health problems resort to print and 82% to digital media for similar reasons. Parents search digital information on nutrition (24%), child development (20%), regulatory disturbance (18%), general information on acute health problem (47%) and alternative treatment options (40%). 3% report to fully trust the information found online and 8% report to never verify its content. Preliminary data analysis yields heterogeneity of utilization by health questions and socio-demographic characteristics. Qualitative data supports the wish for guidance. Conclusions Parents frequently use digital media on child health related topics. They differentiate when and whom they trust, depending on the context. Parents constitute strengths and limitations of digital information. Guiding and enabling parents to use digital media may impact positively on parental health literacy. Main Messages Parents frequently utilize digital media to access information about their children’s health. Parents are reluctant to fully trust the information and wish for more guidance.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/13934
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): Licence according to publishing contract
Departement: School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit: Institute of Public Health (IPH)
Appears in collections:Publikationen Gesundheit

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Dratva, J., Baumann, I., Jaks, R., Robin, D., & Juvalta, S. (2018). “Dear Internet, what should I do when…?” : parents’ digital media behaviour when searching for information on children’s health in Switzerland [Conference poster]. European Journal of Public Health, 28(suppl 4), 489. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky218.233
Dratva, J. et al. (2018) ‘“Dear Internet, what should I do when…?” : parents’ digital media behaviour when searching for information on children’s health in Switzerland’, in European Journal of Public Health. Oxford University Press, p. 489. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky218.233.
J. Dratva, I. Baumann, R. Jaks, D. Robin, and S. Juvalta, ““Dear Internet, what should I do when…?” : parents’ digital media behaviour when searching for information on children’s health in Switzerland,” in European Journal of Public Health, 2018, vol. 28, no. suppl 4, p. 489. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cky218.233.
DRATVA, Julia, Isabel BAUMANN, Rebecca JAKS, Dominik ROBIN und Sibylle JUVALTA, 2018. “Dear Internet, what should I do when…?” : parents’ digital media behaviour when searching for information on children’s health in Switzerland. In: European Journal of Public Health. Conference poster. Oxford University Press. 2018. S. 489
Dratva, Julia, Isabel Baumann, Rebecca Jaks, Dominik Robin, and Sibylle Juvalta. 2018. ““Dear Internet, What Should I Do When…?” : Parents’ Digital Media Behaviour When Searching for Information on Children’s Health in Switzerland.” Conference poster. In European Journal of Public Health, 28:489. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky218.233.
Dratva, Julia, et al. ““Dear Internet, What Should I Do When…?” : Parents’ Digital Media Behaviour When Searching for Information on Children’s Health in Switzerland.” European Journal of Public Health, vol. 28, no. suppl 4, Oxford University Press, 2018, p. 489, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky218.233.


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