As we go on living in the digital age, gaining reliable information is as important as ever. Regardless of someone’s qualifications, they can appear as an expert to others or just misunderstand things written online. When it comes to science, health, and medicine, the need for accurate information is ever-present… and so is Dr. Google. Throw panicked parents into the mix and you have a situation made much worse by them following the wrong advice. Sure, most people realize that doctors have extensive training in their fields, however, this doesn’t always deter people from attempting to find remedies for their children in online forums and blogs. Now, recent studies are showing that parental trust in pediatric doctors is suffering for these same reasons…
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Digital Effects on Parental Trust in Pediatric Doctors
The internet continues to represent a significant blessing and curse to the general public. For every accurate, scientific claim available, there are handfuls of downright dangerous and illogical articles spouting misinformation. Considering the recent controversies of homeopathic medicine, anti-vaccination movements, and other types of medical tomfoolery, staying aware of credible sources of information is key. When it comes to children, cultivating parental trust in pediatric doctors and their practice is absolutely critical. Young children and adults can’t often make informed judgments regarding complex medical care, so it’s up to their guardians to stay informed.
A study presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies makes the case for how and why parental trust in pediatric doctors is eroding. Here’s the main idea of what the study found:
1,374 parent-participants were presented with a hypothetical situation where they learned a child “has had a rash and worsening fever for three days.” Researchers divided the participants into three groups, two of which received information related to the child’s symptoms via the internet. These first two groups obtained screenshots of clinical information related to scarlet fever and Kawasaki Disease respectively. The third group received no additional information through any digital medium.
Some Concerning Results…
Later in the experiment, all of the groups learned that a physician had diagnosed the child with scarlet fever. The participants then rated their level of trust in this diagnosis. Additionally, researchers asked whether the parents felt like seeking a second opinion. These were the essential results:
Of the parents exposed to information before the diagnosis, most admitted that they had a bias toward the judgment of the pediatrician. Not only does digital information have an effect on parental trust in pediatric doctors, but this distrust can also spread to friends and family. Sure, there are many other factors to consider regarding patient-doctor interactions, though it’s important to consider how passing misinformation affects healthcare.
Really, it’s a matter of fact that most patients consult the internet before scheduling a visit. Again, parental trust in pediatric doctors is essential for children needing quick and accurate medical attention. Regardless of whether the information parents read is true, people have a tendency to accumulate bias just by the sheer happenstance of coming across medical information on the internet.
While that’s not to say that access to digital information is ruining doctor/patient relationships, the debate continues over whether the internet is truly a tool to optimize patient outcomes. It’s possible that it may just come down to critical thinking and objective, rational interpretations of the information available — things we can’t exactly prescribe regardless of how useful that might be.
What are your thoughts on parental trust in pediatric doctors? Have you personally encountered these difficulties in your own medical practice? Let us know in the comments below!
