Use of the Internet and E-mail for Health Care Information: Results From a National Survey
Abstract
CONTEXT: The Internet has attracted considerable attention as a means to improve health and health care delivery, but it is not clear how prevalent Internet use for health care really is or what impact it has on health care utilization. Available estimates of use and impact vary widely. Without accurate estimates of use and effects, it is difficult to focus policy discussions or design appropriate policy activities. OBJECTIVES: To measure the extent of Internet use for health care among a representative sample of the US population, to examine the prevalence of e-mail use for health care, and to examine the effects that Internet and e-mail use has on users' knowledge about health care matters and their use of the health care system. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Survey conducted in December 2001 and January 2002 among a sample drawn from a research panel of more than 60 000 US households developed and maintained by Knowledge Networks. Responses were analyzed from 4764 individuals aged 21 years or older who were self-reported Internet users. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported rates in the past year of Internet and e-mail use to obtain information related to health, contact health care professionals, and obtain prescriptions; perceived effects of Internet and e-mail use on health care use. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of respondents with Internet access reported using the Internet to look for advice or information about health or health care in 2001. Six percent reported using e-mail to contact a physician or other health care professional. About one third of those using the Internet for health reported that using the Internet affected a decision about health or their health care, but very few reported impacts on measurable health care utilization; 94% said that Internet use had no effect on the number of physician visits they had and 93% said it had no effect on the number of telephone contacts. Five percent or less reported use of the Internet to obtain prescriptions or purchase pharmaceutical products. CONCLUSIONS: Although many people use the Internet for health information, use is not as common as is sometimes reported. Effects on actual health care utilization are also less substantial than some have claimed. Discussions of the role of the Internet in health care and the development of policies that might influence this role should not presume that use of the Internet for health information is universal or that the Internet strongly influences health care utilization.
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Adoption of electronic communication by physicians is generally low.
“adoption by physicians is generally low61–63”
From Reducing Diagnostic Errors through Effective Communication: Harnessing the Power of Information Technology (2008) · cites this paper as [61]
Blogging may provide people with an environment to safely explore that part of themselves that may be stigmatized by society.
“Blogging may provide people with an environment to safely explore that part of themselves that may be stigmatized by society.44”
From Diagnosis Blog: Checking Up on Health Blogs in the Blogosphere (2010) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Baker, L., Wagner, T. H., Singer, S., & Bundorf, M. K.
- Affiliations
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Venue
- JAMA
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2003-05-14
- Volume
- 289
- Issue
- 18
- Pages
- 2400
- ISSN
- 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
- 0098-7484
- OpenAlex
- W2039522453
- Cited by
- 1,129
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 50 · 2015: 68 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 74 · 2012: 68
- FWCI
- 128.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- JAMA (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (AG 17253, P30AG017253)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Electronic Health Records Systems
- Keywords
- internet use, email, health information seeking, health care utilization, online health care, physician contact, prescription access, health policy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Data Collection, Demography, Female, Health Education, Health Services, Humans, Information Services, Male, Middle Aged, Drug Prescriptions, Regression Analysis, United States, Internet, Electronic Mail
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