What new mothers' favorite web sites and features tell us about designing web-based health promotion: a content...

Unmet health needs experienced by new mothers may potentially be reduced by the use of Internet-based information, advice, decision support, and social networking. New mothers' Web site preferences must be understood in order to develop successful Internet-delivered healthcare information. The purpose of this study is to determine the Web site preferences of new mothers in order to better design health resources distributed through the Internet.

Data were derived from two open-ended questions in a larger survey of new mothers of varying incomes and racial/ethnic groups (n=145). The questions focused on mothers' favorite Web sites and their favorite aspect of the Web sites. Content analysis was used to condense data into descriptive categories.

Mothers most frequently chose commercial search engines, followed by social networking sites, as their favorite Web sites. Mothers' most frequently mentioned favorite attributes of the Web sites were, first, the ability to interact with other users, and then ease of navigation, access, and use. Except for a difference in favorite Web site associated with maternal age, Web sites and their most liked attributes did not differ by demographic characteristics.

New mothers' Web site preferences offer preliminary guidance for designers of e-health resources for this population. An expanded survey with more detailed questions about preferences and devices would further refine this knowledge base.