TY - JOUR T1 - Using the Internet as a source of information and support: a discussion paper on the risks and benefits for children and young people with long-term conditions JF - BMJ Health & Care Informatics SP - 222 LP - 226 DO - 10.14236/jhi.v22i1.74 VL - 22 IS - 1 AU - Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor Y1 - 2015/01/01 UR - http://informatics.bmj.com/content/22/1/222.abstract N2 - Children and young people who have long-term conditions are likely to seek healthrelated information via the Internet. Because of their continuing contact with children with such conditions, primary care practitioners may be well placed to discuss with them and their families the risks and benefits of accessing information online. This includes not only the relative merits of particular sites but also more general online safety issues. To achieve this, it may be helpful for primary care practitioners to consider how they view risk in general, the risks associated with the Internet and the vulnerabilities of children and young people, particularly those with long-term conditions.What is already known about this subjectUsing the Internet to access health-related information carries some risks.Using the Internet to access health-related information has benefits.Children with long-term conditions may be perceived as particularly vulnerable to harm.Perspectives of risk and benefit vary between individuals.What this paper addsPrimary care practitioners may be well placed to discuss the risks and benefits of using online health resources with children, young people and their families.Being able to discuss general perceptions of risk and harm with primary care practitioners may enable children with long-term conditions to learn to manage the risks and maximise the benefits of using online resources.Exploring their own perceptions of risk and benefit, and their application to online resources, may enable primary care practitioners to feel equipped to have such discussions with children and their families. ER -