Additional medical information: prevalence, source, and benefit to parents.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to (1) characterize the source of additional medical information acquired by parents and (2) to verify how much information is correctly interpreted and remembered correctly.

METHODS

A cross-sectional prospective study was made of parents of 108 children with surgical diseases consecutively admitted to a children's hospital in 1999. The median age of the children was 3 years (range, 0.01 to 16), and that of parents was 34 years (range, 18 to 54). Parental knowledge and understanding of their child's illness, operation, potential operative risk, and long-term outcome were scored on the basis of (1) parents' self appraisal (questionnaire) and (2) objective evaluation (interview) performed by one investigator not involved in the child's care.

RESULTS

Parents' education included a university degree (15%), entry examination for university (13%), basic educational qualification (47%), and no educational qualification (15%). Additional medical information was obtained by 77% of the parents (63% from general practitioner, 46% from books, 31% from popular magazines, 24% from internet). Inadequate knowledge of illness and treatment was highlighted in 12% and 19% of the assessment made by interview, respectively, compared with 8% and 14% of the self appraisals. Inadequate knowledge of operative risk was higher in the assessment made by interview (42%) compared with self appraisal (9%; P <.0001). Similarly, inadequate knowledge of long-term outcome was higher in the interview (28%) compared with self appraisal (13%; P <.05). Acquisition of additional medical information irrespective of the source did not affect the accuracy of parental knowledge. Medical knowledge was more accurate in parents of children who required major operations and in those with higher educational qualifications (P <.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Parents commonly obtain additional medical information. However, this information does not necessarily improve parents' understanding of the child's operative risk and long-term problems. Parents' perception of having adequate medical information often is incorrect.