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Internet

The world-wide distributed network of computers connected using TCP/IP, or similar protocols. Indications: - internet use may prevent or delay dementia in older adults [9] Complications: - links to physical, social, & mental health outcomes mixed regarding internet gaming disorder [8] Management: - children < 18 months of age: no screen time except video-chatting. [7] - 18-24 months: high-quality content & apps only (PBS Kids) - watch with children [7] - children under age 2 years should be discouraged from having any screen time - 2-5 years: limit high-quality screen time to < 1 hour/day [7] - parents limit children's screen time to <= 2 hours a day - children should not have TVs or internet-connected devices in their bedrooms [5] Notes: - many sites contain inaccurate medical information [2,3] - 16% of elderly use the internet to obtain health information [6] - recommendations for physicians [4] a) reserve email & texting for patients who will follow- through with in person appointments b) maintain separate personal & professional communications online c) carefully consider professional consequences of online posts d) consider routinely searching your name & correcting inaccurate information

Related

electronic health information exchange (HIE) Internet domain Internet Server internet site; website IP number Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) World-Wide Web (WWW)

References

  1. http://www.elsevier.com/locate/trendsguide
  2. Journal Watch 25(4):32, 2005 Cooper JD, Feder HM Jr. Inaccurate information about lyme disease on the internet. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004 Dec;23(12):1105-8. PMID: 15626946
  3. Scullard P et al. Googling children's health: Reliability of medical advice on the internet. Arch Dis Child 2010 Apr 6; http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.2009.168856
  4. Farnan JM et al Online Medical Professionalism: Patient and Public Relationships: Policy Statement From the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards. Ann Intern Med. 11 April 2013 PMID: 23579867 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/13dfdf236adf8493
  5. American Academy of Pediatrics.Policy Statement. Oct 2013. Children, Adolescents and the Media. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/10/24/peds.2013-2656.full.pdf+html
  6. Levine DM et al. Trends in seniors' use of digital health technology in the United States, 2011-2014. JAMA 2016 Aug 2; 316:538 PMID: 27483069 http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2540389
  7. Young K, Sofair A, Chavey WE Pediatrics Group Offers New Media Use Guidance for Kids. Physician's First Watch, Oct 21, 2016 David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief Massachusetts Medical Society http://www.jwatch.org - COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents Pediatrics Oct 2016, e20162592; PMID: 27940794 - Chassiakos Y, Radesky J, Christakis D et al, COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Children and Adolescents and Digital Media Pediatrics Oct 2016, e20162593 PMID: 27940795
  8. Przybylski AK et al. Internet gaming disorder: Investigating the clinical relevance of a new phenomenon. Am J Psychiatry 2016 Nov 4; PMID: 27809571
  9. Swift Yasgur B Internet Use a Modifiable Dementia Risk Factor in Older Adults? Medscape. May 17, 2023 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/992111 - Cho G, Betensky RA, Chang VW. Internet usage and the prospective risk of dementia: A population-based cohort study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023 PMID: 37132331 https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jgs.18394
  10. Family Media Plan https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx#home