Health Search Statistics for 2006

Some Findings from the Pew Internet & American Life Project report titled:
Online Health Search 2006

• Eighty percent of American internet users have searched for information on at least one of seventeen health topics online in 2006. See chart below for these health topics.
• Most internet users begin their online experience at a search engine when seeking health-related information online.
• Only a very small portion of internet users who search for health information online bother to check the source and date of the information they find.
• About eight million adult Americans look online for health information every day.
• When asked about the last time they went online for health and medical information, respondents said most of the time they began their inquiry from a search engine, and visited two or more websites to find the information.
• Over half of the respondents said that their most recent search for health information online had an impact on how they take care of themselves or care for someone else.
• Almost three-fourths of health seekers felt reassured that they could make appropriate health care decisions after searching for information online.
• Over half said they felt confident to raise new questions or concerns about health issues with their doctor.
• Over half said they felt relieved or comforted by the information they found online.
• About a quarter of the respondents felt overwhelmed by the amount of information they found online. However, another quarter felt frustrated by the lack of information or inability to find what they were looking for.

Source: Fox, Susannah Online Health Search 2006. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, October 29, 2006

To view the full report in PDF format, click here.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project report is based on findings from a survey on Americans’ use of the internet. The numerical data was gathered by telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survery Research Associates between August 1-31, 2006 among a sample of 2,928 adults over the age of eighteen. The margin of error is +/- 3%.