Trust, Satisfaction, and Digital Health Management: Mothers’ Use of Pediatric Facebook Groups

The increasing use of the internet and social media has transformed how parents manage their children’s health, yet the role of mother–pediatrician Facebook groups remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated how mothers participating in these groups manage their children’s health, with particular attention to Facebook group use, trust and satisfaction toward family and online pediatricians, and the associations of these factors with mothers’ health management behaviors. A total of 354 Italian mothers completed an ad hoc online questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, perceived social support, use of online health information, trust, satisfaction, and Facebook group use. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired-samples t-tests, and chi-square tests. Overall trust and satisfaction were significantly higher for family pediatricians than for online pediatricians. Higher trust in online pediatricians was associated with more frequent and direct use of information obtained through Facebook groups, whereas higher trust in family pediatricians was associated with greater verification of online information and continued adherence to pediatric recommendations. Most mothers reported verifying online information before using it. Overall, mother–pediatrician Facebook groups appear to complement rather than replace the family pediatrician, serving primarily as spaces for discussion, information, and social support.