2013-01-14-皮尤-Health_Online_2013_55页_1mb

Report Summary

Key Findings

1. Online Health Information Use:

   • 35% of U.S. adults (81% of internet users) seek health information online.
   • 77% of these users start their search on a general search engine (e.g., Google, Bing).
   • The majority of health-related care and conversation occurs offline, with clinicians being a central resource.

2. Online Diagnosis:

   • Online "diagnosers" (35% of adults) use the internet to understand potential medical conditions.
   • 53% of these users follow up with a medical professional.
   • Women, younger adults, and those with higher education or income are more likely to perform online diagnosis.

3. Follow-Up with Professionals:

   • Among online diagnosers, 41% had their diagnosis confirmed by a professional, while 18% were given differing opinions.

4. Paywalls and Information Access:

   • 26% of online health seekers encounter paywalls; 83% try alternative sources, while 1% pay.
   • Lower-income individuals are more likely to give up after hitting a paywall.

5. Peer Support:

   • 24% of adults seek information or support from others with similar health conditions.
   • 26% read/watch others' health experiences in the past 12 months.
   • 16% join online communities to find others with the same health concerns.

6. Mobile Health Search:

   • 31% of cell phone owners (specifically younger adults, minorities, and college graduates) use their devices to search for health information.
   • 52% of smartphone owners (45% of adults) have used their phones for health queries.

7. Health Reviews and Rankings:

   • 18-24% of internet users consult online reviews of drugs or treatments; posting reviews is less common (7% of users).
   • Demographically, higher education and income correlate with more frequent review use.

8. Demographic Trends:

   • Women, non-Hispanic whites, and insured individuals are more likely to seek health information online.
   • Age, race, and income affect the topics searched (e.g., chronic diseases are more common among whites and adults over 50).

9. COVID-19 Impact:

   • Online health searches surged during the pandemic, with users seeking information on prevention, symptoms, and treatments.

Key Implications

• Online health search is a widely adopted tool but does not replace professional medical consultation.
• It democratizes access to health information but highlights disparities (e.g., paywalls, lower internet access).
• Mobile devices are becoming increasingly important in health information-seeking behaviors.
  -Marketing tools and peer support are crucial in this landscape.
  -Data shows trends toward community-based health behaviors and reliance on digital reviews.