Abstract
Aim
The Internet is the main source of child health information among parents of young children. The aim of this study was to evaluate how regular use of a specific child health website would influence the perceived parental self-efficacy and knowledge of Norwegian mothers with young children. We also wanted the mothers to evaluate the usefulness and user-friendliness of the study website. In addition, usage of the web site in the general population was recorded in the same period.
Subjects and methods
In this prospective survey, 99 Norwegian mothers were recruited as users of a Norwegian website (www.syktbarn.no) developed and managed by Norwegian physicians. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess background information and self-perceived parental competence before and after using the website. Forty-six mothers reported using the site regularly for 9–12 months, and after usage a questionnaire was filled out to evaluate the site’s usefulness. General usage of site was examined with Google Statistics.
Results
After usage, the mothers rated themselves with less anxiety when their child was ill (t = 2.49, p = 0.017, paired sample t-test) and with increased knowledge about childhood disease (t = −2.95, p = 0.004). More mothers claimed to know how to recognize serious disease in their child (t = −3.16, p = 0.003). More than 80 % of mothers appreciated the structure, content and usefulness of the study website. Search characteristics of the mothers were similar to those of the general population.
Conclusion
Regular usage of a child health website developed by physicians increased the self-efficacy and knowledge and reduced anxiety among Norwegian mothers of young children.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the mothers who participated in the study. We thank research assistant Karen Kam Sripada, Medical Faculty, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway, for editing the language of the manuscript. The study was funded by The Research Council of Norway (Business PhD program), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Conflicts of interest
Two of the authors (LPS and JS) are the founders of the study website. This website is non-commercial (i.e., no advertising) with membership access for the general public. Otherwise, the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Skranes, L.P., Løhaugen, G.C.C. & Skranes, J. A child health information website developed by physicians: the impact of use on perceived parental anxiety and competence of Norwegian mothers. J Public Health 23, 77–85 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-015-0659-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-015-0659-6