E-health Study: Caregivers’ Use of Online Health Information
A recent qualitative analysis by researchers at University of Califonia, San Francisco shed some light on online information-seeking activity of “e-caregivers,” primarily adults caring for aging parents. The study of an elder-care resource site called Caring.com was conducted using a 5 question pop-up survey, completed 2161 times, as well as the question "What were you looking for?” Researchers found that visitors were seeking both general information on caregiving and specific help with custodial, medical, emotional, and financial aspects of caregiving. They requested both information to build caregiving skills as well as help with interpreting symptoms, health conditions, and behavioral changes. Many respondents were seeking communication with and support from other caregivers.
Frequently mentioned information-seeking categories included “health information,” “practical caregiving,” and “support.” Several geriatric topics were of major concern, including functional decline, cognitive impairment, and challenges with independent living.
The conclusion suggested that e-caregivers may have needs distinguishing them from e-patients generally, rather than considering them just a subset of e-patients. Also, it was noted that respondents expressed concerns that transcended the disease-focused categories around which many eHealth resources are organized, and instead corresponded to traditional areas of geriatric expertise, such as functional decline, cognitive impairment, and family dynamics. Via the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Ms. Graham is a writer and editor with a current focus on health and wellness. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Erin Monda