RESEARCH - More than half of Americans use the Internet to find health information

[Guest guest]

More Than Half of Americans Use Internet for Health

WASHINGTON (Reuters) Feb 03 - More than half of Americans looked up

health information on the Internet last year, U.S. government

researchers reported on Tuesday.

But only 5% used email to communicate with their doctors, the survey

by the National Center for Health Statistics found.

The survey included 7,192 adults aged 18 to 64 questioned between

January and June 2009.

During that period, 51% " had used the Internet to look up health

information during the past 12 months, " the center, part of the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement.

" Among adults aged 18-64, women were more likely than men to look up

health information on the Internet (58% versus 43%) and were also more

likely to use online chat groups to learn about health topics (4%

versus 2.5%). "

The survey found 6% of adults requested a refill of a prescription on

the Internet, and almost 3% had made an appointment with a healthcare

provider in the previous 12 months using the Internet.

Other researchers have found doctors are reluctant to use the Internet

or email to communicate with patients because of concerns about

privacy as well as confusion about how to charge for their time.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716427

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

My first rheumy encouraged me to call him to let him know how I was

doing. I could also call his office, and he would call back the same

day. I could also email him, and he would answer. He was wonderful,

and I was so disappointed when he relocated to Atlanta.

My present rheumy is not that way. He's all business, and doesn't say

much at all. He keeps his nose stuck in his computer, and I guess he's

putting in what I'm telling him. But he doesn't offer his opinion

about anything I say. If I call, I speak with the nurse, not him. I

don't have his email address.

One day I'm going to just sit there and say nothing when he's looking

at the computer and see what he does, LOL. I wish he would at least

carry on a conversation.

He does give me a thorough physical examination of my joints, though.

Sue

On Feb 5, 2010, at 8:40 AM, wrote:

>

> Other researchers have found doctors are reluctant to use the Internet

> or email to communicate with patients because of concerns about

> privacy as well as confusion about how to charge for their time.

[Guest guest]

Sorry your current rheumatologist isn't like the gem you had before,

Sue. I would try that experiment on him!

Not an MD

On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 12:18 PM, marysue <marysue@...> wrote:

> My first rheumy encouraged me to call him to let him know how I was

> doing. I could also call his office, and he would call back the same

> day. I could also email him, and he would answer. He was wonderful,

> and I was so disappointed when he relocated to Atlanta.

>

> My present rheumy is not that way. He's all business, and doesn't say

> much at all. He keeps his nose stuck in his computer, and I guess he's

> putting in what I'm telling him. But he doesn't offer his opinion

> about anything I say. If I call, I speak with the nurse, not him. I

> don't have his email address.

>

> One day I'm going to just sit there and say nothing when he's looking

> at the computer and see what he does, LOL. I wish he would at least

> carry on a conversation.

>

> He does give me a thorough physical examination of my joints, though.

>

> Sue