The latest Internet statistics are out and one thing is clear: People want to find health information online.
The statistics, from Pew Internet study released last month, show that the web is likely the top choice—outside of a physician’s office—for finding medical information, sharing medical stories, reading about others’ experiences and tracking a personalized health program.
Top 5 things people do the most online
- Send or read email
- Use a search engine to find information
- Look for health/medical info
- Check the weather
- Search for a service or product
Top 5 things people do the least online
- Create or work on a personal online journal or blog
- Use Twitter
- Buy or sell stocks, bonds or mutual funds
- Use a dating website
- Visit virtual worlds such as Second Life
Internet access
- 78% of U.S. adults use the Internet (May 2011 survey).
- 83% of U.S. adults own a cell phone (May 2011 survey).
Online health information search
- 80% of Internet users, or 59% of U.S. adults, look online for health information.
- 17% of cell phone owners, or 15% of adults, have used their phones to look up health or medical information.
The most commonly researched topics are specific diseases or conditions, treatments or procedures, and doctors or other health professionals.
Peer-to-peer healthcare
- 34% of Internet users, or 25% of U.S. adults, have read someone else’s commentary or experience about health or medical issues on an online news group, website, or blog.
- 24% of Internet users, or 18% of adults, have consulted online reviews of particular drugs or medical treatments.
- 18% of Internet users, or 13% of adults, have gone online to find others who might have health concerns similar to theirs. People living with chronic and rare conditions are significantly more likely to do this.
- 27% of Internet users, or 20% of adults, have tracked their weight, diet, exercise routine, or some other health indicators or symptoms online.
- 6% of Internet users, or 4% of adults, have posted comments, questions, or information about health or medical issues on a website of any kind, such as a health site or news site that allows comments and discussion.
- 4% of Internet users, or 3% of adults, have posted their experiences with a particular drug or medical treatment.
Some other notable findings
- 65 percent use social networks like LinkedIn or Facebook.
- 32 percent read journals or blogs.
- 21 percent download a podcast.
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