Half of American adults have searched online for health information.
Fully 80% of adult Internet users, or about 93 million Americans, have searched for at least one of 16 major health topics online. This makes the act of looking for health or medical information one of the most popular activities online, after email and researching a product or service before buying it.
Health seekers go online to become informed, to prepare for appointments and surgery, to share information, and to seek and provide support.
Among other things, Internet users:
- Search for health information at any time of the day or night.
- Research a diagnosis or prescription.
- Prepare for surgery or find out how best to recover from one.
- Get tips from other caregivers and e-patients about dealing with a particular symptom.
- Give and receive emotional support.
Health seekers report that their health information and services improve and that their relationships with their doctors change.
Three-quarters (73%) of health seekers say the Internet has improved the health information and services they receive.
Health seekers want access to more information, but they can't always find what is already available online.
When asked what is missing online, e-patients and caregivers came up with a list that was both inspirational and disappointing. Many current Internet health users want to expand access to information-laden sites that are currently closed to non-subscribers, while other users wished for items that already exist, but apparently go unnoticed or unfound to them. Examples include:
- More information on drug interactions
- Diagnostic tools or symptom finders
- Electronic medical records and test results
- More information for caregivers
- More ways to connect with local resources
- Doctor-patient email
- More information on a doctor's background
(Source: Fox, Susannah and Deborah Fallows. Internet Health Resources. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, July 2003)