Getting a second opinion: health information and the Internet

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• In 2005, over one-third of Canadian adults utilized the internet for health information.
• A significant portion of these individuals discussed their online findings with healthcare providers.
• This trend indicates a growing reliance on digital resources for health-related queries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prevalence of internet use for health information among Canadian adults.
• To investigate the extent to which Canadians discuss online health information with their physicians.
• To identify potential disparities in access and utilization of online health information.

Main Methods:

• The study likely involved survey data collection from a representative sample of Canadian adults.
• Data analysis focused on reported internet usage for health information and subsequent physician consultations.
• The research may have explored demographic factors influencing online health information seeking behaviors.

Main Results:

• Over 33% of Canadian adults searched for health information online in 2005.
• More than 33% of those who saw a doctor also discussed their internet search results.
• Online health information seeking was found to be unevenly distributed, suggesting a "second-level digital divide."

Conclusions:

• The internet is a significant source of health information for Canadians.
• Physician-patient discussions about online health information are common.
• Addressing the digital divide is crucial for equitable access to reliable online health resources.