Wellness at your fingertips

The internet - rather than healthcare professionals - is by far US households' main source for healthcare information, and women more frequently than men seek such information online, according to a recent Burst Media survey, reports MarketingCharts.

Burst surveyed some 3,700 web users 18 years and older on how they research health information - including prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies.

The following are among the findings of the survey:

• Users click on drug ads:
  • 23.5 percent of respondents say they have clicked on a prescription or OTC drug/remedy ad
  • 24.6 percent of women and 22.3 percent of men say they have done so.
  • The proportion of those who have click on ads is fairly consistent among the age segments, with the highest percentage - 27.2 percent - among respondents age 55+.
• Online health information is sought out by all age segments:
  • 78.1 percent of respondents use the internet to gather health information.
  • Women more than men go online for health info - 83.5 percent vs. 72.4 percent.
  • 90.1 percent of women age 25-34 search for health information online.
  • More than three-quarters of those 65 years and older say they go online for health information.

• Young adults refer to online health info most often:
  • 40.8 percent of respondents age18-34 search online for health information at least once a week
  • 29.0 percent of respondents 35 years and older do so.
• Users go online before and after visits to doctor:
• 33.9 percent of respondents research health topics online before visiting a medical professional.
• Women 25-34 are most likely (55.4 percent) to do so.
• 43.5 percent of respondents use the internet after a medical visit to research topics discussed during the visit.
• Women are more likely than men to do further online research: 50.8 percent vs. 35.5 percent.
• The internet, more than the family doctor, is the primary source of health info:
• 45.2 percent of respondents say the internet is the primary source of health information
• 23.0 percent cite health professionals, and 12.9 percent cite friends and family.
• Women more than men use the internet as their primary household health resource: 49.9 percent vs. 40.3 percent.
• Men more than women cite health professionals: 25.8 percent vs. 20.4 percent.

• Healthcare workers, family/friends top drug/remedy info sources:
• 40.4 percent cited healthcare professionals as the top source for prescription and OTC drug/remedy information.
• 35.3 percent cited family and friends.
• 29.6 percent cited websites.
• 29.3 percent pointed to pharmacists.
• 26.1 percent said TV and print ads.
• Other sources: news stories (25.2 percent), internet advertising (18.6 percent) and product pamphlets/brochures (17.4 percent).

Burst provides more findings from the study, here.