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Most Web Users Looking for Health Information

Wed, 12/06/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
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The Pew Internet Report has released a new survey that says that fifty-two million American adults, or 55% of those with Internet access, have used the Web to get health or medical information. The report shows that the Internet has become a truly powerful force in the way that many adults research health care information. Researchers said that users appreciate the convenience of being able to seek information at any hour, the fact that they can get a wealth of information online, and the fact that they can do research anonymously -- many said they had used the Web to get information about a sensitive health topic that is difficult to talk about. 42% of those who look for health information have bookmarked or saved a health sites as a "favorite place" so they can go back to it regularly.

54% of health seekers say they were searching for information on behalf of someone else, and the rest were looking on their own behalf. Women are twice as likely as men to be seeking material for a child, but men and women were equally likely to be seeking information on behalf of a parent or other relative.

People are taking the information they find to heart. 48% of these health seekers say the advice they found on the Web has improved the way they take care of themselves, 55% say access to the Internet has improved the way they get medical and health information. 47% of those who sought health information for themselves said the material affected their decisions about treatments and care, and half said the information influenced the way they eat and exercise. 36% of those who sought health information for someone else during their last online search say the material affected their decisions on behalf of that loved one and 70% said the Web information influenced their decision about how to treat an illness or condition. 50% said the Web information led them to ask a doctor new questions or get a second opinion from another doctor, and 28% said the Web information affected their decision about whether or not to visit a doctor.

There are concerns about the accuracy of online information, especially since so many people are making medical decisions based on that information. 86% of health seekers are concerned about getting health information from an unreliable source online. Nevertheless, 52% of users who have visited health sites think that "almost all" or "most" health information they see on the Internet is credible, and 64% say they had never heard of the Web sites they ended up consulting until they found them. In contrast, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that doctors review only about half of the content on health and medical Web sites and a University of Michigan study in 1997 found that less than 10% of the health sites they reviewed offered recommendations that were completely consistent with established guidelines in the medical community.

Privacy is a concern of many people looking for healthcare information. 85% are concerned that an insurance company might raise their rates or deny them coverage because of the health sites they have visited, and 52% are concerned that their employer might find out what health sites they have visited, even though most do their research from home, rather than from work.

The Pew Internet Report has released a new survey that says that fifty-two million American adults, or 55% of those with Internet access, have used the Web to get health or medical information. The report shows that the Internet has become a truly powerful force in the way that many adults research health care information. Researchers said that users appreciate the convenience of being able to seek information at any hour, the fact that they can get a wealth of information online, and the fact that they can do research anonymously -- many said they had used the Web to get information about a sensitive health topic that is difficult to talk about. 42% of those who look for health information have bookmarked or saved a health sites as a "favorite place" so they can go back to it regularly.

54% of health seekers say they were searching for information on behalf of someone else, and the rest were looking on their own behalf. Women are twice as likely as men to be seeking material for a child, but men and women were equally likely to be seeking information on behalf of a parent or other relative.

People are taking the information they find to heart. 48% of these health seekers say the advice they found on the Web has improved the way they take care of themselves, 55% say access to the Internet has improved the way they get medical and health information. 47% of those who sought health information for themselves said the material affected their decisions about treatments and care, and half said the information influenced the way they eat and exercise. 36% of those who sought health information for someone else during their last online search say the material affected their decisions on behalf of that loved one and 70% said the Web information influenced their decision about how to treat an illness or condition. 50% said the Web information led them to ask a doctor new questions or get a second opinion from another doctor, and 28% said the Web information affected their decision about whether or not to visit a doctor.

There are concerns about the accuracy of online information, especially since so many people are making medical decisions based on that information. 86% of health seekers are concerned about getting health information from an unreliable source online. Nevertheless, 52% of users who have visited health sites think that "almost all" or "most" health information they see on the Internet is credible, and 64% say they had never heard of the Web sites they ended up consulting until they found them. In contrast, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that doctors review only about half of the content on health and medical Web sites and a University of Michigan study in 1997 found that less than 10% of the health sites they reviewed offered recommendations that were completely consistent with established guidelines in the medical community.

Privacy is a concern of many people looking for healthcare information. 85% are concerned that an insurance company might raise their rates or deny them coverage because of the health sites they have visited, and 52% are concerned that their employer might find out what health sites they have visited, even though most do their research from home, rather than from work.