Examining online information-seeking behaviours and antenatal anxiety of expectant fathers.

This study was designed to examine online information-seeking behaviours of expectant fathers regarding pregnancy and birth and their antenatal anxiety. The present study was conducted using 120 expectant fathers who accompanied their wives to the maternity outpatient clinic in western Turkey, Izmir Province. The fathers' anxiety levels were assessed using a trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which is a validated test for scoring trait anxiety (basal anxiety, STAI-T). The results showed that 92.5% of the expectant fathers searched for information online during pregnancy. They most frequently searched for the following topics: foetal development, complications to pregnancy and nutrition. The mean total trait anxiety scale score of the expectant fathers was 47.35 ± 6.98 (range = 31-62). The anxiety scores of the expectant fathers who searched for information on topics related to vaccination during pregnancy, exercise, antenatal tests, labour pain and childbirth signs were high. Health professionals should consider the information needs and concerns of expectant fathers during pregnancy while providing family-centred care.

Use of the internet related to infertility by infertile women and men in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in use of the Internet related to infertility between infertile women and men, whether they benefit or are negatively affected from information on the Internet, and share this information with health professional. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 285 infertile women and 158 men between December 2015 and February 2016. Data were collected by a survey Form which included questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, related to infertility (duration of treatment, type of treatment) and questions about use of the Internet. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the differences in Internet use and independent variables for patients. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of women and 68.4% of men used the Internet related to infertility. Women and men most often looked for information related to assisted reproductive technology and the causes of infertility. Men searched for information related to fertility drugs used in treatment significantly less than women. They often visited the websites of fertility centers and doctors. A high percentage of them have benefited from information on the Internet. Almost half of the women and men shared the information obtained from the Internet with health professional. CONCLUSION: Most frequently, infertile patients use the Internet to obtain information related to infertility and they benefited from information on the Internet. For health professional it is important to direct Internet users to safe and true information resources.