Posted by
Doc Carlos on Saturday, September 01, 2007 12:57:13 PM
My patients frequently refer to health information they received on the internet when they discuss their illnesses with me. In general, this is good thing. However, many are confused with conflicting information and need help with finding non-biased web sites. The article below discusses the confidence people have of internet information. According to my biased memory, the numbers don't seem to represent the majority of patients in my practice. Of course my patients are sicker, older, and more are spanish speaking when compared to the opinion pole of Prostpectiv,. Illnesses drastically interfere with internet access and understanding. However, illness can be a powerful motivating force to encourage internet use. I do believe improving internet access to sick persons, especially the elderly, will improve health and quality of life.
http://www.prospectiv.com/press121.jspPRESS RELEASES
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75 Percent of Consumers Say Internet is Their First-Choice Resource for Drug Treatment Information, according to Prospectiv Survey
Majority surveyed conduct research on health and
ailment-focused web sites versus pharmaceutical company sites
July 24, 2007
WOBURN, MA - July 24, 2007 -A recent study by Prospectiv shows that for the majority of consumers, the cure for what ails them can be found online.
Prospectiv says:
"The survey also found that consumers who conduct online ailment and drug research largely favor general health web sites (54 percent) and specific ailment-focused sites (37 percent) over pharmaceutical company sites (4 percent). Respondents also shared their frequency of conducting online health-related research. While the majority (40 percent) said that they had conducted online research only two times or less during the past six months, 33 percent reported research frequency of at least once-a-month, followed by every other month (27 percent). "