61% of adults get health information online, with 48% searching for others and 36% for themselves. Social media is also a source of health information, with 11% of social network users and 8% of Twitter users obtaining information. Mobile phones and apps are emerging sources, with 17% using phones for health info and 7% having health apps. The online information impacted decisions for 60% and whether to see a doctor for 38%.

1. E-Health by the Numbers
Gary Atwood
November 16, 2010
HLTH 425

2. Who Gets Health Info Online?
61% of all adults report that they get some kind of
health information from online resources.

3. Who Was Your Last Search For?
For other people – 48%
For myself – 36%
For myself & someone
else – 11%

4. Social Media
Percentage of e-patients
who consume social media
Percentage who have
contributed content

5. Social Media Cont.
Percent who get health information
from a social networking site – 11%
of SNS users.
Percent who get health information
from Twitter – 8% of Twitter users

6. Health to Go
17% use mobile
phones for health
information
7% have health
apps on their
handheld device

7. Why Is All Of This Important?
60%
40%
Did the information you found online
affect a decision about how to treat
an illness or a condition?
Affected Decision
Did Not Affect
Decision
38% said it affected their decision about
whether to see a doctor or not.

8. Special Thanks…
All data in this presentation comes courtesy of the Pew Internet &
American Life Project
Citation to Specific Presentation:
Rainie, Lee. (2010, October 25). Online Health Seeking: How Social
Networks Can Be Healing Communities. Retrieved from
http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2010/Oct/North-Atlantic-
Health-Science-Libraries.aspx