Dr. Google’s office never closes
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Transcript of Dr. Google’s office never closes
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Dr. Google’s office never closes
Susannah Fox
Pew Internet Project
April 14, 2005
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Being online is the norm – but it is not universal
Internet adoption
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Broadband adoption affects the internet health marketplace
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Hypothesis:Industrial Age medicine is dead…
medical science
PHYSICIAN
patient
non-MD staff
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Hypothesis: …Information Age medicine is here
NET-SAVVYPATIENT my other
health experts
otherself-helpers
my searchengine
my onlinesupportgroups
my primarydoc
my favoritehealth sites
my specialistdocmy online
patient-helpers
my onlinedocsqualityware
& communityware
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95 million health seekers in the U.S.
8 in 10 internet users have searched for at least one of 16 health topics
Big impact for people caring for sick loved ones
High expectations that reliable health care information will be online
Half of internet “health seekers” say they will turn first to the internet for their next health question
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Specific disease and treatment information top the search list
63% of internet users have looked online for information about a specific disease or medical problem
47% for certain medical treatment or procedure 44% for diet, nutrition, vitamins, or nutritional
supplements 36% for exercise or fitness 34% for prescription or OTC drugs Plus 11 other topics
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How internet users gather health information
Most: Scattershot searches in response to a diagnosis
Some: Targeted email health news or medical updates
Few: Online support groups or email lists for people concerned about a particular health or medical issue
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Bad information is dangerous
RAND/CHCF: Online advice is incomplete and hard to understand – esp. for Spanish readers
NEJM: Americans receive about half of recommended medical care
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Three types of health seeker
Vigilant: 25% “always” check the source, date, and privacy policy of a health Web site
Concerned: 25% check “most of the time”
Unconcerned: 50% “only sometimes,” “hardly ever,” or “never” check
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Conclusion
More Americans look for health info online than see a doctor on a typical day
Search engines are the starting point, not specialized sites
Email is used for advice and support, esp. for chronically ill & caregivers
Few verify information quality, but many use what they find
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Contact information
Susannah Fox, Pew Internet & American Life Project
Sfox(at)pewinternet.org 202 419 4500