More Americans seek health info online: survey

May 7, 2002

Last Updated: 2002-05-07 9:48:13 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Suzanne Rostler

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The number of Americans who turn to the

Internet to answer questions about health and medicine continues to

grow, according to a recent survey.

The poll found 110 million adults--roughly 80% of those who are

online--search the Web for health information at least sometimes, up

from 97 million just 1 year ago and from 54 million in 1998.

These " cyberchondriacs " --a term used to describe anyone who goes online

for health information--prefer to use search engines that can take them

to several different sites, rather than relying on one or two specific

sites. Slightly more than half use a portal or search engine, about one

quarter go directly to a site, and 12% call up a general site that

focuses on many topics, such as or AOL, that may include a section

on health issues.

On average, American adults search for health information three times a

month, according to the survey.

The findings reflect the trend among doctors to recommend that patients

search the Web for medical information, Humphrey , chairman of the

poll, told Reuters Health. The survey also indicates a desire

among adults to use the Internet to fulfill a variety of health needs.

" Many patients are a bit frustrated by e-health, " said in an

interview. " It's the great mother of all libraries, but it is not a

place they can do transactions such as make appointments, refill

prescriptions and ask follow-up questions. "

The survey included 707 adults age 18 and older who were interviewed by

telephone between March 13-19, 2002.

Adults who surf the Internet for health information tend to be younger,

better educated and more affluent than adults in the general population,

according to the survey. For instance, cyberchondriacs include more than

80% of people ages 18 to 30, 84% of those with postgraduate education

and 77% of individuals with household incomes over $75,000.

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