title: Use of the internet by legal guardians of patients from public and private pediatric urology health services in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the internet access characteristics of parents of patients in both public (PubHS) and private (PrivHS) pediatric urology health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Question sheets (200) were supplied to the legal guardians (LG) of patients seen in the PubHS (100) and a PrivHS (100) which have different socio-economic perspectives. LG were questioned on whether they sought on the web information about the urologic problem of their child, the kind of information sought, and whether it affected communication and the overall relationship with their physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LG from the PubHS had less access to the internet than those from the PrivHS (51% vs 81%, P<0.001). Overall, 44 LG (with no significant difference between PubHS and PrivHS) reported that they sought on the web information about their child's urologic disease. Out of these, 28 considered that communication with their doctor improved. There were no statistically significant differences between the PubHS and PrivHS regarding peace of mind and confidence in treatment after internet consultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The internet is utilized by LG of patients in both the PubHS and PrivHS. Of the 44% who sought information on the web about their child's urologic disease, 64% considered that communication with the doctor improved.
authors: Section of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahiana School of Medicine, Salvador da Bahia, Av Juracy Magalhães Jr, 2096 Rio Vermelho, 41940-060 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. mdleclair@chu-nantes.fr
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Portocarrero
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Portocarrero
authors: Flávia Ribeiro do Prado
authors: FR
authors: Valladares
authors: Ubirajara
authors: U
authors: Barroso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D010372:Pediatrics; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014570:Urologic Diseases; D014572:Urology