Consumer Perspective on Health
Information Technology
July 17, 2009
Susannah Fox
Pew Internet & American Life Project
Presented to: National Partnership for Women & Families

Internet use, 2000-09
Percentage of U.S. Adults Online
•79% of adults in the U.S. use the internet
up from 46% in 2000
• 93% of teens ages 12-17 use the internet
up from 73% in 2000
-A -00
Ma 7
No 06
De 06
ep 1
un 4
Se 02
-A 06
un 5
M 8
-M 06
Ma 2
Ja 05
De 07
07
Fe 00
Se -07
Ja 04
Se 05
Fe 03
Au 06
Ja 1
0
0
0
0
y-9
t-0
g-
v-
b-
b-
n-
n-
n-
p-
p-
c-
p-
c-
e-
e-
-
y-
-
ar
ar
ug
pr
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 2

63% of adults have broadband at home
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 3

More bandwidth = more health engagement
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 4

“We are lab rats tapping out messages on the bars of
our cages.” – an e-patient in 2002
“
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 5

The social life of health information
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 6

The right information at the right time, from
a health professional or a peer
• 59% of e-patients have accessed user-generated
content related to health and health care.
• 20% of e-patients have created such content online.
• 60% of e-patients say they or someone they know
has been helped by following medical advice or
health information found online (up from 31% in
2006).
• 3% of e-patients report harm (stable since 2006).
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 7

“A screen that ships without a mouse ships broken”
- Clay Shirky
“
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 8

Questions to consider
Who’s not engaged in online health and what are
the implications for health IT development?
What do consumers find frustrating?
What do consumers want to know about health IT?
What do consumers want to do with health IT?
Consumer Perspective on Health IT July 17, 2009 9