See the published version of this preprint at Italian Journal of Pediatrics.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
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Research
Francesco Gesualdo
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9087-4398
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
People increasingly search online for health information. Particularly, parents of patients often use the Internet as a source for health information. We conducted a survey to investigate the online searching behavior of parents of patients < 18 years, admitted for surgery in an Italian pediatric hospital.
Methods
The cross-sectional survey was nested in a prospective cohort study on surgical procedures. Parents of patients undergoing surgical procedures at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy, were enrolled and contacted by phone after the procedure. We recorded socio-demographic data, sex, length of stay following surgery, proximity of residence to the hospital, use of the internet to search for information on the surgery before and after the intervention and effect of information found online.
Results
The majority (91%) of parents of children undergoing surgical intervention used the internet. Of these, 74.3% of parents searched for information before surgery, and 26.1% searched for information after. Most parents searched for information on the care provider’s website. Two thirds of parents reported that information found online had increased their understanding of the child’s condition. Multivariate analyses indicated that families living far from the hospital (> 43 km) were more likely to search for health information (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.34–4.00), as were families of patients undergoing a major surgery (OR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.04–4.11).
Conclusions
Parents of children undergoing surgery often search online for information on their child’s intervention, in particular those whose child is scheduled for a major surgery and those living far from the hospital. A survey like the present one allows to understand parents’ information needs, to better guide them in online information seeking and to better tailor information provided on the care provider’s website.
Keywords
children, surgery, internet, information search
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Italian Journal of Pediatrics.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 08 Aug, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 19 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 19 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 11 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 09 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 08 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 08 Jul, 2020
Version 1
Posted 24 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Review #3 received
Received 09 May, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 09 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 28 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 28 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 28 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 24 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 23 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Apr, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Apr, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Pediatrics
Learn more about our company.
A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at Italian Journal of Pediatrics.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Francesco Gesualdo
Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9087-4398
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Italian Journal of Pediatrics.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 08 Aug, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 19 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 19 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 11 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 09 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 08 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 08 Jul, 2020
Version 1
Posted 24 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Review #3 received
Received 09 May, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 09 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 28 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 28 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 28 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 24 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 23 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Apr, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Apr, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Pediatrics
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Italian Journal of Pediatrics.
Background
People increasingly search online for health information. Particularly, parents of patients often use the Internet as a source for health information. We conducted a survey to investigate the online searching behavior of parents of patients < 18 years, admitted for surgery in an Italian pediatric hospital.
Methods
The cross-sectional survey was nested in a prospective cohort study on surgical procedures. Parents of patients undergoing surgical procedures at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy, were enrolled and contacted by phone after the procedure. We recorded socio-demographic data, sex, length of stay following surgery, proximity of residence to the hospital, use of the internet to search for information on the surgery before and after the intervention and effect of information found online.
Results
The majority (91%) of parents of children undergoing surgical intervention used the internet. Of these, 74.3% of parents searched for information before surgery, and 26.1% searched for information after. Most parents searched for information on the care provider’s website. Two thirds of parents reported that information found online had increased their understanding of the child’s condition. Multivariate analyses indicated that families living far from the hospital (> 43 km) were more likely to search for health information (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.34–4.00), as were families of patients undergoing a major surgery (OR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.04–4.11).
Conclusions
Parents of children undergoing surgery often search online for information on their child’s intervention, in particular those whose child is scheduled for a major surgery and those living far from the hospital. A survey like the present one allows to understand parents’ information needs, to better guide them in online information seeking and to better tailor information provided on the care provider’s website.
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