Dr Google: Which Parents are Performing the Most Online Research Prior to the First Clinic Visit?

Parents commonly use the internet to research their child's diagnosis, read provider reviews, and find additional resources like support groups before or after a clinic visit. This study aimed to characterize demographic and diagnosis-specific variables associated with more frequent internet-based research prior to initial outpatient evaluation.

Parents of children presenting to an outpatient orthopaedic clinic completed a survey reporting their history of internet use in preparation for the initial visit. Data on demographics, diagnosis, and types of websites used were collected and analyzed. Predictors of parental previsit internet research were determined. Groups were assessed for differences in internet usage using Pearson's chi-square and Cochran-Armitage trend tests.

Of 514 completed surveys, 179 (34.8%) parents reported internet use to prepare for the initial clinic visit. Internet use was more common among parents of patients with congenital or syndromic conditions (ie clubfoot or cerebral palsy) (19/30, [63.3%]) compared to spine (28/71, [39.4%]), nonspecific, (musculoskeletal pain) (28/81, [34.6%]), traumatic (fractures, and sport injuries) (72/226 [31.9%]), or non-congenital extremity (toe walking, intoeing, bow legs) (32/106, [30.2%]) concerns (P = .010). Internet use was more common in patients with household income ≥$50,000 (109/242, [45.0%]) compared to lower income (60/209, [28.7%]) and nondisclosed income (10/63, [15.9%]) (P < .001). Among 484 subjects disclosing education level, higher internet-usage rates were associated with more education; 22.6% (30/133) for high-school graduates or less, 36.0% (67/186) for some college, and 43.0% (71/165) for college graduates or more (trend P < .001). Search engines were used most frequently (175/179, [97.8%]), followed by hospital websites (52/179, [29.1%]), social media (31/179, [17.3%]), and medical information sites (28/179, [15.6%]). Few patients (2/179, [1.1%]) utilized medical society sites like Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) or OrthoKids.org.

Parents of children with congenital or syndromic conditions were more likely to research their child's condition online before seeing an orthopaedic surgeon. Higher education and household income were linearly associated with previsit internet research.

(1)About 34.8% of surveyed parents used the internet before their child's clinic visit, with higher usage observed among those with higher educational and socioeconomic status, and for more complex or chronic medical conditions.(2)Parents of children with congenital or syndromic conditions (eg clubfoot, developmental dysplasia of the hip) are significantly more likely to utilize internet resources prior to visits (63%) compared to other diagnoses, with trauma-related visits showing much lower rates.(3)Search engines are the most commonly used online resource, followed by hospital or specialty websites and social media, with Facebook being particularly significant among parents of children with congenital or syndromic diagnoses.(4)Disparities in education and income limit access to online health information, reinforcing inequity and highlighting the need for accessible, high-quality resources and clinician awareness.

Level IV.