Health information technology: caregiver characteristics affecting use and preferences

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Fetner, Maggie Wright
- Affiliation: School of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social media and information technology offer a potential avenue to communicate positive messages regarding young children's health, but little is known about caregivers' information-seeking behaviors and preferences. METHODS: Caregivers of healthy children ages 6 and younger in a community clinic completed an in-person, verbally-administered interview that assessed information-seeking behaviors and preferences, health literacy, and other domains. Differences in preferred methods of receiving child dental health-related information were examined according to caregivers' characteristics by comparing methods' rank of preference. RESULTS: Caregivers (mean age=28.5 years) reported a high level of access to electronic communications including computer access (93%), cell phones (91%), email (91%), and Facebook (75%). When asked to rank their preferred method for receiving child dental health-related information, 31% preferred email, 24% phone, 21% US mail, and 21% text-messages. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider caregiver characteristics and caregiver's preference for both information-seeking and receiving when delivering child health information.

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