Internet health.

[Guest guest]

Alternative health information is exploding on the web, but much of it is

commercially slanted to maximize sales. Most is not overtly untruthfull, but

devoid of more important co -information or used out of context of complete

information.

 

I see the internet as the greatest potential good for health gains that the

population could have. It is not dominated yet, by the medical/drug industries.

It will allow people to become educated about health, nutrition, drugs, toxins,

disease, the ploitics involved, etc. They will then become much more healthy

after they educate and empower themselves.

 

Frank

 

 

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/461426

 

Internet is Valued for Health Information Seekers

 

Posted 09/19/2003

 

Searching for health information on the Internet has become a popular activity.

Eighty percent of adult Internet users (an estimated 93 million Americans) have

searched online for at least 1 major health topic, according to findings of a

survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

 

Health information seekers go online to become informed, prepare for physician

visits and surgery, share information, and seek support from and provide support

for others. The average Internet user has searched for 4 of the 16 major health

topics listed (Cover Figure). Twenty-nine percent of Internet users have

searched for at least 7 topics. Searching for health information is only a

little less popular than sending and receiving e-mail (93% of survey

respondents) and researching a product before buying it (83%).

 

The number of online health seekers continues to increase. In a March 2000

survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 54% of Internet

users (about 50 million adults) said they looked for health or medical

information online. By March 2003, 66% of Internet users (or 77 million adults)

said they go online to find health or medical information.

 

Women are more likely than men to conduct online searches on health topics,

which is not surprising considering that women are already more likely to seek

health care and health information. Some 85% of women who use the Internet have

searched for at least 1 of 16 health topics (see Cover Figure) compared with 75%

of men. Women are more likely to seek out information about a specific disease,

alternative treatments, diet, nutrition, vitamins, or nutritional supplements.

Health topics that interested men and women equally include fitness,

experimen-tal treatments, and environmental health hazards. Better-educated and

higher-income Internet users were more likely to have searched for health

information.

 

Nearly three quarters (73%) of online health information seekers say use of the

Internet has improved their health knowledge and the services they receive.

While many Internet users cited the maxim " knowledge is power, " as reason for

seeking out health information online, others noted that their Internet

activities, such as e-mail and online group discussions, brought psychological

and emotional benefits, such as a feeling they were no longer alone with their

condition or situation.

 

Internet users report that their health information and services improve and

their relationship with their physician changes (although not always for the

better). Some online users said their physicians were receptive to discussing

the information gleaned from their Internet searches, while others said

physicians sometimes responded defensively and cautioned patients not to rely on

online health information sources. While 30% of e-mail users have sent or

received health-related e-mail, only 7% have exchanged e-mails with their

physicians. However, nearly all of these persons say their correspondence with

their physicians has been useful.

 

In general, respondents reported that their use of the Internet made them feel

more independent from their physicians, empowered them to ask more informed

questions during physician visits, and allowed them to be less fearful of the

unknown.

 

Health-topic searches are not an everyday event for most Internet users. Eight

of 10 health seekers search " every few months " or less often than that. Veteran

Internet users (with 2 to 3 years of online experience) were more likely than

newcomers (less than 1 year) to have searched for health information: 77%

compared with 59%, respectively. In addition, the longer someone has been

online, the more effectively he or she uses the Internet.

 

Three groups of Internet users emerged in this survey: those who look for health

information on behalf of others; those with disabilities; and full-time

caregivers. More than half (57%) of health seekers said the last time they did a

health search they were looking for information for someone else.

 

Fifteen percent of those surveyed report that a disability or chronic disease

keeps them from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other

activities. While persons living with a disability have among the lowest levels

of Internet access, those who do go online are active users: 87% of disabled or

chronically ill Internet users have searched for at least 1 health topic. Nearly

every topic in the survey was more popular with disabled or chronically ill

Internet users than the general Internet population (Figure).

 

 

Figure. (click image to zoom) While less likely to have Internet access, persons

who are disabled or have a chronic illness who do use the Internet do so

enthusiastically. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project December 2002

survey.)

 

 

Six million home caregivers turn to the Internet for health information and are

more likely to seek knowledge on specific medical treatments (62% vs 47% of

general Internet users) and on medications (55% vs 34%).

 

However, Americans are not finding all the health information they seek online.

Examples of what is missing or lacking, according to survey respondents,

include:

 

Information on drug interactions.

Information regarding diagnostic tools.

Electronic medical records and test results.

Caregiver information.

More ways to connect with local resources.

Doctor-patient e-mail.

More information on physicians' backgrounds.

Better privacy protection.

Less spam.

Better ways to search for health information.

 

Even still, most of those seeking health information indicated they were pleased

with their Internet experience. In fact, Internet users said they are as likely

to go online the next time they need medical information (46%) as they are to

contact a medical professional (47%).

 

Internet users who have already searched for health information online were

especially enthusiastic. Fully 58% of health seekers said they will first go

online when they next need reliable health information; 35% say they would first

contact a medical professional.

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

Data for the Cover Figure and in " Trend of the Month " are from the Pew Internet

& American Life Project survey, December 2002. The complete survey is available

at www.pewinternet.org.

 

 

 

 

Drug Benefit Trends 15(8):8-11, 2003. © 2003 Cliggott Publishing, Division of

SCP Communications

 

 

 

 

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