The Social Life of Health Information - Pew Report

Jun 11, 2009

The Social Life of Health Information, by Susannah Fox, Sydney Jones

Americans’ pursuit of health takes place within a widening network of both online and offline sources. The findings in this report come from a national phone survey done by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project in partnership with the California HealthCare Foundation. Some 2,253 adults, age 18 and older, were interviewed in December 2008 about the social impact of the internet on health care. The interviews were conducted in English or Spanish and included 502 cell-phone interviews.

Findings:

• 61% of American adults look online for health information.
• American adults continue to turn to traditional sources of health information, even as many of them deepen their engagement with the online world.
• The social life of health information is robust.
• A majority of e-patients access user-generated health information.
• Social networking sites are used only sparingly for health queries and updates.
• Online health inquiries have an impact on decisions or actions and there are clearly more positive experiences than negative ones.
• Internet users report a surge of interest in information about exercise and fitness.
• Change is coming, whether through the spread of wireless devices or generational shifts.

Read more in full report at:

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/8-The-Social-Life-of-Health-Information.aspx