Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 27 P64

BSPED2011 Poster Presentations (1) (84 abstracts)

Internet-based information resources for young patients and families with diabetes mellitus: a user preference survey

Sarah Hopkins 1 , Claire Pesterfield 2 & Carlo Acerini 1


1University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; 2Weston Centre, CUHFT, Cambridge, UK.


Background: Internet-based education and information resources for young people and families with DM have increased, yet the extent of use and perceived value among this patient group is uncertain. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of parents’ and carers’ experience of currently available DM internet-based resources.

Objective: To assess i) level of internet use, ii) perceived quality of patient support information currently available, iii) need for a local diabetes clinic website and iv) preferred website content.

Method: Questionnaire survey delivered to the carers of a random sample of children and young people with DM (age 0–18 years) attending a tertiary paediatric diabetes clinic (n 280). Quality and perceived value of internet-based information was rated from 1 (poor) to 5 (high).

Results: Seventy-four carers completed the questionnaire. 96% have home internet access, although only 76% used this to access information about DM. Topics most frequently searched were: equipment (blood glucose meters, pens and pumps (68%)), ‘what is diabetes’ (64%), carbohydrate counting (62%) and long-term complications (62%). Least searched for included how to give insulin (32%) and instructions about how to use kit (34%).

Information on ‘what is diabetes’ was rated highest in quality (mean (S.D.)=4.5 (0.6)) whereas information relating to ‘diabetes in school’ (3.0 (1.3)) and ‘support meetings and other events’ (3.0 (1.3)) was rated lowest. 81 and 34% of users respectively found the Diabetes UK and JDRF websites useful. Overall users found information from external internet sites ‘untrustworthy’ (25%), ‘distressing’ (15%), ‘too technical’ (11%), ‘inadequate (19%) or excessive (9%), with 71% preferring to receive information about DM from a ‘trusted’ local clinic website.

Conclusion: Internet use amongst young patients and families with DM is high. The quality of information is rated highly variable with the majority of users preferring to receive this from a trusted local website.

Volume 27

39th Meeting of the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes

British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes 

Browse other volumes

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.