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The number of Americans who
turn to the Internet to answer questions about health and medicine continues
to grow, according to a recent survey.
The Harris poll found 110
million adults -- roughly 80% of those who are online -- search the Web
for health information at least sometimes, up from 97 million
just 1 year ago and from 54 million in 1998.
These "cyberchondriacs" -- a
term used to describe anyone who goes online for health information -- prefer
to use search engines that can take them to several different sites, rather
than relying on one or two specific sites. Slightly more than half use
a portal or search engine, about one quarter go directly to a site, and
12% call up a general site that focuses on many topics, such as Yahoo
or AOL, that may include a section on health issues.
On average, American adults
search for health information three times a month, according to the survey.
The findings reflect the trend
among doctors to recommend that patients search the Web for medical information.
The survey also indicates a desire among adults to use the Internet to
fulfill a variety of health needs.
The survey included 707 adults
age 18 and older who were interviewed by telephone between March 13-19,
2002.
Adults
who surf the Internet for health information tend to be younger, better
educated and more affluent than adults in the general population,
according to the survey. For instance, cyberchondriacs include more than
80% of people ages 18 to 30, 84% of those with postgraduate education
and 77% of individuals with household incomes over $75,000.
Harris
Poll April 27, 2002
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