Perceived outcomes of online parenting information according to self‐selected participants from a population of website users

Abstract

Looking for consumer health/well-being information online is increasingly common. However, little is known about how people are using information targeted to a specific audience, and what happens as a result of this use. We partnered with 'Naitre & Grandir' (N&G), a magazine, website and newsletter offering trustworthy parenting information on child growth, development and health/wellbeing. This study was designed to uncover the outcomes of online parenting information. We used the theory-driven Information Assessment Method (IAM) to study parental perceptions regarding outcomes of specific N&G web pages. A research question was: Is there a difference between parents with a low level of education and income vs. other parents? Over an 8-month study period, 4007 participants submitted 4862 IAM ratings that suggested N&G information was valuable in terms of situational relevance (93.7%), positive cognitive impact (92.9%), intention to use (85.7%), and expectation for child health/well-being benefit (82.4%). In addition, results suggested participants with a low level of education and income were more likely to (i) seek and use information for the child of someone else, and (ii) expect being more engaged in decision-making for their child, and being less worried regarding a problem concerning their child. Our results do not support an association between the combined level of income and education, and perceived outcomes of information. This is the first study to assess outcomes of emailed parenting information from a parental viewpoint. More research is needed to better understand outcomes of targeted online information, which may ultimately contribute to improve people's health/well-being.

Assessing and Improving the Use of Online Information About Child Development, Education, Health, and Well-Being in Low-Education, Low-Income Parents: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Multiphase Study

“…In fact, the effectiveness of childhood education interventions has been demonstrated repeatedly [16-19,23,27-47]. In our 2-year pilot data, parents expected health and well-being benefits (for themselves or their child) from using N&G information in 65.4% of all IAM ratings (n=34,021) [50]. In accordance with knowledge translation and implementation research [62], we will not replicate effectiveness studies and rather focus on improving interventions that work.…”

“…In line with studies on social inequalities in Web information use [55-61], the statistical analysis of these ratings revealed a social gradient: low-SES parents underuse N&G and the IAM (Figure 1). Results also indicated that low-SES parents are more likely to report decreased worries and increased confidence as a result of using N&G information [50]. There is a need to understand this gradient to improve N&G content and reach low-SES parents and a need to explore how the use of knowledge translates into health and well-being outcomes for low-SES parents and children.…”

Health outcomes of online consumer health information: A systematic mixed studies review with framework synthesis

“…Good communication skills may allow people to overcome low levels of e‐health literacy and Internet self‐efficacy (Zach et al, ). Mediated (by someone else) acquisition of information is very common; for example, up to 18.1% of searches for parenting information may be conducted for someone else's child and communicated to the parents (Pluye et al, ). Good communication with health professionals usually leads to better health outcomes (Street, ).…”

Assessing and Improving the Use of Online Information About Child Development, Education, Health, and Well-Being in Low-Education, Low-Income Parents: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Multiphase Study (Preprint)

“…N&G partnered with investigators from McGill University to validate and implement the IAM to continuously assess and improve content shared on the N&G website and newsletter [49][50][51][52][53]. In line with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)'s definitions [54], the IAM is a knowledge translation tool for monitoring N&G information use, and its impact on parents is measured by expected health/well-being benefits.…”

“…In line with studies on social inequalities in Web information use [55][56][57][58][59][60][61], the statistical analysis of these ratings revealed a social gradient: low-SES parents underuse N&G and the IAM (Figure 1). Results also indicated that low-SES parents are more likely to report decreased worries and increased confidence as a result of using N&G information [50]. There is a need to understand this gradient to improve N&G content and reach low-SES parents and a need to explore how the use of knowledge translates into health and well-being outcomes for low-SES parents and children.…”