title: E-health and health care behaviour of parents of young children: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Internet plays a huge role in providing information about health care problems. However, it is unknown how parents use and perceive the internet as a source of information and how this influences health care utilisation when it comes to common complaints in infants. The objective was to evaluate the perception parents have on the role of internet in providing health care information on common symptoms in infants and its effects on health care utilisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative design was chosen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents were recruited from a population-based birth-cohort and selected purposefully.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were used to receive information of parents' ideas. Thematic coding and constant comparison were used for interview transcript analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten parents were interviewed. Parents felt anxious and responsible when their child displayed common symptoms, and appeared to be in need of information. They tried to obtain information from relatives, but more so from the internet, because of its accessibility. Nevertheless, information found on the internet had several limitations, evoked new doubts and insecurity and although parents compared information from multiple sources, only the physician was able to take away the insecurity. The internet did not interfere in the decision to consult the physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents need information about their children's symptoms and the internet is a major resource. However, only physicians could take away their symptom-related doubts and insecurities and internet information did not play a role in parental decision making. Information gathered online may complement the information from physicians, rather than replace it. Key points Internet plays an increasing role in providing health care information but it is unknown how this influences health care utilisation. Our study suggests that: Parents need information about their children's symptoms and the internet is a major resource. However, only physicians could take away their symptom-related doubts and insecurities. Internet information did not play a role in parental decision making.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Pulmonology , Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van der Gugten
authors.affiliation: b Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rob J R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.affiliation: b Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theo J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Verheij
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Pulmonology , Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Cornelis K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: van der Ent
authors.affiliation: b Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marijke C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kars
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
keywords: Consultation; The Netherlands; common illnesses; general practice; pediatrics; primary care; procedures