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Patient web-resource interest and internet readiness in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
1Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients show high interest in online resources for information and support. However, their actual use of these web-based tools for IBD remains infrequent, indicating a gap between interest and application.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Digital health
- Patient education
Background:
- The internet offers a cost-effective platform for patient education and support.
- Limited data exists on internet access and interest among chronically ill pediatric populations, particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Web-based resources may appeal to pediatric IBD patients due to the potential for anonymity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the level of internet interest and access among pediatric patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- To evaluate the utilization of web-based resources for information and support within this population.
- To understand the gap between expressed interest and actual use of online IBD resources.
Main Methods:
- A survey was mailed to pediatric patients (aged 8-18) diagnosed with IBD receiving care at a tertiary-care clinic.
- Demographic data of responders and non-responders were compared using chi-squared and analysis of variance.
- Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore variations within the patient cohort.
Main Results:
- A response rate of 38.9% (63/162) was achieved, with responders not significantly differing from non-responders in age, sex, or disease distribution.
- Nearly all surveyed patients had internet access (98.4%), with a majority accessing it at school (61.9%).
- High interest was reported for a pediatric IBD website (91%), with specific interest in information (83%), support (73%), asking questions (78%), reading/responding to questions (73%/60%), and chatting (46%).
- Despite high interest, actual use of the internet for IBD information (52.4%) and support (9.5%) was significantly lower.
- While 15.8% anticipated weekly visits to a pediatric IBD site, only 1.5% had visited one in the preceding week.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric IBD patients express a strong interest in utilizing web-based resources for information and peer support.
- A significant disparity exists between the high reported interest in online IBD resources and their infrequent actual utilization.
- Further research is needed to understand barriers to use and optimize the design and delivery of digital health tools for pediatric IBD management.
Objective:
The internet has been touted as a cost-effective method of providing valuable patient education and support resources. However, little is known of the level of internet interest in or access to web-based resources of most chronically ill populations generally, and pediatric populations in particular. Web-based patient resources could be especially applicable to the pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population given the potential appeal of an anonymous forum for this group.
Methods:
Tertiary-care clinic patients aged 8-18 years and diagnosed with IBD were surveyed by mail. chi and/or analysis of variance were used to compare demographic data from nonresponders and responders and for subgroup analyses.
Results:
Of 162 eligible patients, 63 (38.9%) completed the survey. Responders did not differ significantly from nonresponders by age, sex, or distribution of disease. Overall, 98.4% of those surveyed had internet access, with 61.9% having access at school. Ninety-five percent had used the internet, while 91% expressed interest in visiting a pediatric IBD website for general IBD information (83%), for support (73%), to pose questions (78%) or read (73%) or respond (60%) to questions, or to chat with others (46%). Despite expressed interest, far fewer had ever used the internet as an IBD information (52.4%) or support (9.5%) resource. Similarly, although 15.8% anticipated visiting a pediatric IBD site weekly, only 1.5% had done so in the week of the survey.
Conclusions:
Reported levels of interest in web-based patient resources are high among pediatric IBD patients, yet use may be infrequent.
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