Health
Medical Research No. 1 Internet Use
ThirdAge Staff
The Pew Internet & American Life project has just issued a new report on how Americans use the Internet. One of the most popular activities: medical research.
The Pew Report on The Online Health Care Revolution found that 55 percent of those with Net access have used it to find health or medical information. That's more than those who used the Net to shop (47 percent) or check stock prices (44 percent) or sports scores (36 percent).
Most of those 52 million online health information seekers are between the ages of 30 and 64. Two-thirds of women aged 30 to 49 who have access to the Net have used it to look for health or medical information. Overall, researchers found that women are more likely than men to seek medical information online.
Primarily, it is a tool for the sick, rather than the healthy. Most health seekers said they searched for information about a physical or mental illness. Far fewer sought information about fitness or nutrition.
The Pew report found most adults used the Net for medical research purposes, not to communicate with caregivers or buy medicine. Few health seekers gave out personal information about themselves to a health Web site.
During their most recent visit, 54 percent of health seekers said they were searching for information on behalf of a loved one. Forty-three percent said they were looking for information for themselves.
Health seekers cited three overwhelming advantages to using the Internet to track down medical information: It's available anytime, at their convenience. A wealth of resources is available online, more than any other place. And health seekers appreciate the anonymity of the experience, especially when dealing with a sensitive subject.
What they find has had an impact on online health seekers. Four in 10 say their last search affected their decisions about going to the doctor, treating an illness or questioning their physician. About half who have gone online for medical info say it improved the way they care for themselves.
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