Patterns of parental online health information-seeking behaviour.

AIM: This study aimed to understand parents' online health information-seeking behaviour and the potential influence of this on their relationship with their child's physician. METHODS: A survey regarding parental online health information-seeking behaviour was administered to parents of children aged under 18 years admitted to an Australian tertiary paediatric hospital, paediatric hospital ward and paediatric clinic, and in their social media networks. Responses were presented as frequencies and percentages. Associations between parents' trust in their child's doctor and survey responses were analysed using χ2 tests. RESULTS: In all, 300 surveys were completed. Most parents (89%) reported searching for online health information when their child was sick. Some (31%) followed online health information instead of going to the doctor. Parents who trusted their child's doctor were more likely to follow the doctor instead of online health information when it contained conflicting advice. Most parents (91%) wanted health-care professionals' help in searching for online health information. CONCLUSION: Almost all parents search for online health information, but most do not act on it. Parents' trust in their child's doctor influences how parents use online health information. Thus, clinicians could recommend trustworthy websites with information that complements their advice to ensure parents access reliable online health information.

Nephrologists' perspectives on communication and decision-making regarding technique survival in peritoneal dialysis: an international qualitative interview study.

OBJECTIVES: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) allows patients increased autonomy and flexibility; however, both infectious and non-infectious complications may lead to technique failure, which shortens treatment longevity. Maintaining patients on PD remains a major challenge for nephrologists. This study aims to describe nephrologists' perspectives on technique survival in PD. DESIGN: Qualitative semistructured interview study. Transcripts were thematically analysed. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 30 nephrologists across 11 countries including Australia, the USA, the UK, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Colombia and Uruguay were interviewed from April 2017 to November 2019. RESULTS: We identified four themes: defining patient suitability (confidence in capacity for self-management, ensuring clinical stability and expected resilience), building endurance (facilitating access to practical support, improving mental well-being, optimising quality of care and training to reduce risk of complications), establishing rapport through effective communications (managing expectations to enhance trust, individualising care and harnessing a multidisciplinary approach) and confronting fear and acknowledging barriers to haemodialysis (preventing crash landing to haemodialysis, facing concerns of losing independence and positive framing of haemodialysis). CONCLUSION: Nephrologists reported that technique survival in PD is influenced by patients' medical circumstances, psychological motivation and positively influenced by the education and support provided by treating clinicians and families. Strategies to enhance patients' knowledge on PD and communication with patients about technique survival in PD are needed to build trust, set patient expectations of treatment and improve the process of transition off PD.