trends in online medical activity
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Trends in online medical activity: E-patients on the internet - by Lee RainieTRANSCRIPT
TRENDS IN ONLINE HEALTH MEDICAL ACTIVITY
Lee RainieDirector – Pew Internet ProjectExcerpted slides from presentation to medical librarians10.27.09
October 2009 2Trends in medical searches online
Networked Individuals as e-patients• 61% of total population – 83%
of online population
• 64% of women; 57% of men
• 65% of whites; 51% blacks; 44% Hispanics
• Age
– 72% of 18-29-year-olds
– 71% of 30-49-year-olds
– 59% of 50-64-year-olds
– 27% of those 65 and older
• Skews upscale and educated
• Parentshttp://e-patients.net/
October 2009 3Trends in medical searches online
October 2009 4Trends in medical searches online
October 2009 5Trends in medical searches online
Information about specific disease or medical problem
36%39%
45%49%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
% o
f a
du
lts
October 2009 6Trends in medical searches online
Information about treatment or procedure procedure
27%30%
36%
41%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
% o
f ad
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October 2009 7Trends in medical searches online
Information about exercise and fitness
21%25%
31%
38%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
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October 2009 8Trends in medical searches online
Information about prescription or over-the-counter drugs
19%24%
26%
33%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
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October 2009 9Trends in medical searches online
Information about alternative treatments or medicine
16% 18% 19%
26%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
% o
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October 2009 10Trends in medical searches online
Information about depression, anxiety, stress or mental health issues
12% 14% 15%
21%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
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October 2009 11Trends in medical searches online
Information about experimental treatments or medicines
10%14% 13%
15%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Dec-02 Nov-04 Aug-06 Dec-08
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October 2009 12Trends in medical searches online
Other e-patient activities
• 47% of adults have used the internet to get information about doctors or other health professionals
• 38% have gotten information about hospitals or other medical facilities
• 33% have gotten information about how to lose or control their weight
• 27% have gotten information about health insurance
• 12% have gotten information about how to stay healthy on an overseas trip
October 2009 13Trends in medical searches online
60% of e-patients engage with social media
• 41% have read someone else's commentary or experience about health or medical issues on an online news group, website, or blog.
• 24% have consulted rankings or reviews online of hospitals/other medical facilities.
• 24% have consulted rankings or reviews of docs or other providers.
• 19% have signed up to receive updates about health or medical issues.
• 13% have listened to a podcast about health or medical issues.
October 2009 14Trends in medical searches online
20% of e-patients are e-participators• 6% have tagged or categorized
content about health issues. • 6% have posted comments about
health issues in an online discussion, listserv, or other online group forum.
• 5% have posted comments about health on a blog.
• 5% have reviewed a doctor. • 4% have reviewed a hospital. • 4% have shared photos, videos or
audio files online about health or medical issues.
October 2009 16Trends in medical searches online
Thank you!
Lee Rainie
Director
Pew Internet & American Life Project
1615 L Street NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LRainie
202-419-4500