Although seeing a doctor is still the preferred choice for serious medical issues, an increasing number of Americans are turning to the internet for a first or second opinion.
One in three U.S. adults said that at one time or another they have gone online specifically to try to figure out what medical condition they or someone else might have, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.
Among those who have used online information to try to diagnose themselves or someone else, 53 percent said they later saw a medical professional to talk about their concerns. Clinicians were more likely than not to confirm the online diagnosis.
Among the survey’s other findings:
• 59 percent of U.S. adults said they looked online for health information within the past year.
• Of those, 8 in 10 said they started their last health inquiry at a general search engine. Smaller groups started at a dedicated health website or social networking site.
• One in 4 health information seekers said they have encountered a pay wall. Most tried to find the same information somewhere else, but some just gave up. Only 2 percent paid the fee.
“Online health information is available day or night, at no cost, and the internet has become a de facto second opinion for many people,” Susannah Fox, an associate director of the Project and lead author of the report, said in a statment. “The open search box invites people to begin their journey toward better health, but this study shows that the internet is just one piece of the puzzle. Clinicians are still central.”
When asked about the last time they had a serious health issue:
• 70 percent of U.S. adults got information, care or support from a doctor or other health care professional.
• 60 percent got information or support from friends and family.
• 24 percent got information or support from others who have the same health condition.
• Most of these interactions occurred offline.
In addition to the care and communication provided by family, friends and fellow patients, 26 percent of internet users have read or watched someone else’s experience about health or medical issues in the last 12 months.
There has been little growth in the use of health care-related review sites. One in five internet users have consulted online reviews and rankings of health care service providers and treatments compared with, for example, the 8 in 10 internet users who said they have researched a general consumer product or service online. And only 3-4 percent of internet users have posted a health care-related review.
When asked if the information found online led them to think they needed the attention of a medical professional, 46 percent of online diagnosers said that was the case. Another 38 percent of online diagnosers said it was something they could take care of at home and 11 percent said it was both or in-between.
When we asked respondents about the accuracy of their initial diagnosis, they reported:
• 41 percent of online diagnosers said a medical professional confirmed their diagnosis. An additional 2 percent said a medical professional partially confirmed it.
• 35 percent said they did not visit a clinician to get a professional opinion.
• 18 percent said they consulted a medical professional and the clinician either did not agree or offered a different opinion about the condition.
• 1 percent said their conversation with a clinician was inconclusive.
Women are more likely than men to go online to figure out a possible diagnosis. Other groups that have a high likelihood of doing so include younger people, white adults, those who live in households earning $75,000 or more and those with a college degree or advanced degrees.
Historically, people have always tried to answer their health questions at home and made personal choices about whether and when to consult a clinician, the report noted. Many have now added the internet to their personal health toolbox, helping themselves and their loved ones better understand what might be ailing them. The study was not designed to determine whether the internet has had a good or bad influence on health care, as its focus was on the scope of the activity rather than the outcomes.
