Using the Internet? The experiences of parents of disabled children

Abstract

For some parents the Internet is a viable and flexible medium for accessing useful information and services. However, caution about the extent to which it becomes the primary means for delivering information is needed. Technical problems and lack of time can make it difficult to search for complex information. The 'digital divide' between users and non-users makes it crucial that issues of cost, lack of equipment and skill be addressed. Information needs to be made available in other forms to ensure that those who cannot or do not wish to use the Internet are not socially excluded.

Factors that influence public engagement with eHealth: A literature review

“…However 44% of respondents reported a willingness to use the Internet for health information if they had Internet access. In the same year, Blackburn and Read noted that a key reason cited for not using the Internet was not having a PC at home [13]. This finding is supported by Ibrahim and Boulos [27] who showed through multivariate analysis that the only distinguishing feature between Internet users and non-users was PC ownership.…”

“…In Blackburn and Read's study [13], circumstantial barriers to Internet use included lack of time due to caring (57%) or other circumstances (61%), and costs associated with telephony (22%) and equipment (15%). Lack of time available was reported as an issue also by Skinner et al [25], and cost was cited as an issue in Helft et al [23].…”

“…Bowen et al [26] reported that in their telephone survey of 431 women aged 18-74, in King County, Washington State, USA, for respondents who were unfamiliar in using the Internet; this obviously inhibited use. The lack of Internet searching skills was also noted as an inhibiting factor in Blackburn and Read's study [13], and in the study by Helft et al [23]. Ibrahim and Boulos [27] undertook a questionnaire survey of 150 Saudi cancer patients to examine Internet utilization, barriers to access and information need and found levels of awareness of the availability of online health-related resources to be minimal.…”

“…In evaluating 10 years of published research relating to CHESS, the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System, University of Wisconsin, USA, Gustafson et al [19] noted that bespoke health information sources, such as CHESS, also require a greater level of literacy for optimal access. In 2005, Gray et al conducted 26 focus groups with a total of 157 adolescent students (aged [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] in diverse geographical and socio-economic settings in the UK and USA to explore health literacy challenges when using the Internet for online health information [20].…”

Assisting parents of children with autism to make intervention decisions by improving their health literacy about evidence

“…Even if some information obtained on the Internet is of high quality, some parents do not have access to this type of technology due to geographical location, cost of hardware and connection costs, and other factors. Hence, it is important that information on autism interventions is provided in a range of formats (Blackburn & Read, 2005), to account for possible lack of access to technology, to accommodate individual learning needs, and to ensure that parents have every opportunity to completely understand and consider all aspects of autism interventions, in particular the risks and benefits of different treatment options .…”