Overview

Fifty-two million American adults, or 55% of those with Internet access, have used the Web to get health or medical information. A great many are using the Web to gather information on behalf of family and friends. Those who are in excellent health often seek material to help someone else; those who are in less-than-excellent health are more likely to be hunting for information for themselves. When it comes to the most recent time they used the Internet to get health information, most “health seekers” focused on getting information about an immediate medical problem. And the majority got information in conjunction with a doctor’s visit. They appreciate the convenience of being able to seek information at any hour, the fact that they can get a wealth of information online, and the fact that they can do research anonymously.