Health Topics

Summary of Findings

Symptoms and treatments continue to dominate internet users’ health searches.

Six topics were repeated from previous surveys, in some cases adding to trends that date back to 2002:

  • 66% of internet users look online for information about a specific disease or medical problem (perennially in the top spot).
  • 56% of internet users look online for information about a certain medical treatment or procedure.
  • 44% of internet users look online for information about doctors or other health professionals.
  • 36% of internet users look online for information about hospitals or other medical facilities.
  • 33% of internet users look online for information related to health insurance, including private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
  • 22% of internet users look online for information about environmental health hazards.
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Copyright 2013 Pew Internet & American Life Project

The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Center is supported by The Pew Charitable Trust.