Enquiring minds want to know: topics requested by users of a children's health information website.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate health information needs of users of a health information website for children and young people.


METHODS
A prospective analysis was conducted of unsolicited information requests to the Children First for Health (www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk) website, an NHS-run health and hospital online information resource for children, young people and families. All specific and general enquiries were recorded prospectively and coded according to health topic, age of the enquirer and web pages accessed.


RESULTS
There were 2865 (62%) general health information and 924 (21%) specific enquiries received over an 18-month period (6.3 enquiries per day). More general enquiries were received about adolescent (64%) than children's (36%) health issues. The most common topics were psychosocial issues, hospital and health services, and normal growth and development. Only 1% of requests for information related to smoking, alcohol and drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Children and adolescents are active users of the Internet for health information. The results of this study highlight the health topics that are of greatest interest to children and young people.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide objective data on health information topics of interest to UK children and young people and can be used to guide development of health information aimed at UK youth.
Franck
Linda
L
UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. l.franck@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Noble
Genevieve
G
McEvoy
Marcella
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012752:Shame; D013222:State Medicine; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom