Health-Related Internet Use by Informal Caregivers of Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Background Internet-based health resources can support informal caregivers who are caring for children or adolescents with health care needs. However, few studies discriminate informal caregivers’ needs from those of their care recipients or those of people caring for adults. Objective This study reviews the literature of health-related Internet use among informal caregivers of children and adolescents. Methods A total of 17 studies were selected from literature searches conducted in 6 electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, and EMBASE. All databases searches were limited to articles published in the years 2004 to 2014 in peer-reviewed publications. Search terms consisted of “health-related Internet use,” “eHealth,” “Internet use for health-related purpose(s),” “Web-based resource(s),” and “online resources,” combined with informal caregiver (or “parents”) of “child,” “adolescent,” “student,” “youth,” and “teen.” The age range of the children receiving care was limited to younger than 22 years. Their informal caregivers were defined as persons (parents) who provided unpaid care or assistance to a child or an adolescent with health problems. Results Among 17 empirical studies, the majority of informal caregivers of children with medical issues were the parents. Quantitative studies (14/17, 77%) reported prevalence and predictors of health-related Internet use, while mixed-methods and qualitative studies (3/17, 24%) investigated informal caregiver perceptions of helpful health-related Internet use and barriers of use. The prevalence of health-related Internet use varied (11%-90%) dependent upon how health-related Internet use was operationalized and measured. Disease-specific information was used for decision making about treatment, while social support via virtual communities and email were used for informal caregiver emotional needs. A digital divide of Internet access was identified in lower educated minorities. Most studies had methodological challenges resulting from convenience sampling, cross-sectional surveys, lack of theoretical frameworks, or no clear definitions of health-related Internet use. Conclusions This study provides an important understanding of how family members use Internet-based information and support systems during child caregiving. Healthcare providers and policy makers should integrate family needs into their current practices and policies. Further rigorous research is required to design efficient and effective nursing interventions.

Communication Technology Use by Caregivers of Adolescents With Mental Health Issues: Systematic Review (Preprint)

“…Multimedia approaches including internet and web-based programs are a means for providing informational support to caregivers; they also found that effective parent education through communication technologies can augment the mental well-being of children [95]. Our results are consistent with earlier reports in this field that suggest that web-based interventions are effective for caregivers managing mental health issues in adolescents [91,96,97].…”

“…Identifying appropriate communication technologies to inform and support caregivers may be a challenge, but it is essential to understand their adoption thereof [87,88]. Information dissemination delivered through communication technologies is gradually replacing traditional approaches [89], but the implementation in health care [90] and among caregivers [14,91] is still lacking. Communication technologies can distribute an unprecedented amount of information through technology such as electronic devices, system software, and information networks such as the internet, which provides access to resources [92,93].…”

An Evaluation of Websites Offering Caregiver Education for Tracheostomy and Home Mechanical Ventilation

“…Despite efforts of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide excellent discharge education prior to the child going home, caregivers may encounter disorganized care, poor communication, and information mismanagement, especially when transitioning from the hospital to home (Mitchell et al, 2013). Park, Kim, and Steinhoff (2016) found that the majority of informal caregivers of children with medical issues were the parents. The minority of informal caregivers are other relatives or legal guardians.…”

Profile of the Users and the Most Visited Topics of a Pediatric eHealth Website

“…Young adults seem to perform more health searches on the Internet [3,[7][8][9]12,13] due to their higher digital skills [14]. More educated users use the Internet more in regard to health [7,9,12,13,15,16], as do people with higher incomes [13,17,18]. Geographically, according to some authors, users who live in urban areas perform more health searches on the Internet [11], while others point out that this would be the case for those who live further away from medical services [15].…”