Dr. Web is always in and makes house calls around the clock
April 20, 2006
With Americans depending more and more on the internet to meet their needs, it comes as no surprise that the web is fast becoming a primary source for health information. Eight in ten internet users have looked online for health topics, with an ever-increasing interest in diet, fitness, drugs, health insurance, experimental treatments and particular doctors and hospitals.
A study conducted by Internet Health Resources confirmed that there are specific groups of internet users who gravitate to the web for health information. The groups include women, people under 65, college graduates, those with more online experience and those with broadband access.
Fifty nine percent of women have read up on nutrition information online, compared to 43% of male users. Thirty-eight percent of parents have checked online for health insurance information as opposed to 26 percent of internet users who do not have children living at home.
Research conducted by the PEW Internet Life Project shows that 41 percent of internet users with broadband connection at home have looked up a particular doctor or hospital compared to 19 percent of users with dial-up connections at home.
“More Americans go online to seek health information than see a doctor on a typical day,” noted Susannah Fox, author of the national study titled “Prescription Drugs Online.” Internet users are increasingly turning to the web to research prescription drugs and the number of Americans who purchase medication online continues to grow.
- Three quarters of online prescription drug purchasers say the last time they purchased prescription drugs online, they bought a drug for a chronic medical condition such as high blood pressure or arthritis.
- One quarter of prescription and drug purchasers say their last purchase at an online pharmacy was for some other purpose, such as weight loss.
- Nine in ten online prescription drug purchasers plan to go online to fill a prescription in the future.
Several years ago, the typical internet health search was conducted by people with acute medical needs such as the onset of worrisome symptoms or a new medical diagnosis. These days, experienced internet users are just as likely to be looking up information on how to stay well, which doctors and hospitals have the best surgical success record, or what insurance options are available. The internet’s power users look up questions every day and do their “health homework” online.
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