Number of e-Patients in America Soars, As Internet and Broadband Use Expands

The number of American adults looking online for health information has soared from 25% of the population up to 61% over the last eight years, according to results of a new survey by the Pew Research Center and the California HealthCare Foundation. The Internet is now one of the top three sources of health information that Americans use, along with doctors and family members.

What are those people reading online?: Others’ commentaries about health or medical issues, online rankings or reviews of doctors or other providers, and online rankings or reviews of hospitals or other medical facilities.

They are also signing up to receive updates about health issues or listening to podcasts. Not surprisingly, the most popular topics are exercise and fitness.

This expansion in the number of “e-patients” as they are sometimes called, is likely due in part to widening Internet and broadband access. Only 46% of American adults had Internet access in 2000, but now approximately 75% do. Only 5% of U.S. households had broadband connections in 2000, compared to 57% in late 2008.

Only 20% of adults surveyed had “actively contributed comments, review, and updates to online content.” But the study’s authors expect that number to grow substantially as the use of wireless devices expands. Approximately 2,200 adults were interviewed for the survey, which included Spanish speakers.

It’s great that so many people in the U.S. finally have access to online health information and are starting to use it. The shift that needs to occur now is for more of these people to go from “hunting and pecking” for information to becoming truly empowered consumers of medical care. That’s a big commitment to make, but more important than ever when health care costs keep rising, patients get saddled with a bigger and bigger share of those costs, and primary care doctors are more and more pressed for time.

You can find out more about what a real “e-patient” is and read inspiring stories at e-Patients.net and by following e-patient Dave’s blog.