BOSTON, Mass. - January 11, 2011 - The New Year brings new
resolutions and many Americans will turn to the Internet seeking health
information to set and achieve their 2011 goals. But can that information be
trusted? According to new research released today by Health Dialog, and
commissioned by parent-company Bupa, 81% of Americans go online for health
information, 72% look online for information about medicines, and 58% have
looked for information online to make a self-diagnosis. Yet, surprisingly, only
one in four people say they check the source of their online advice (1). The
survey was conducted as part of Bupa Health Pulse 2010, a global study of health
attitudes and behaviors of over 12,000 individuals across 12
countries.
With smart phones and tablets set to outsell personal
computers by 2012 (2), a report from the London School of Economics (LSE)
published today in conjunction with the survey reveals that there will be both
more health information online and more ways to access it than ever before. (3)
The report also highlights the benefits and challenges of accessing
health-related information online.
"Increased and easier access to online
health information creates a double-edged sword," said Jan Maurer, MD, Vice
President and Medical Director, Health Dialog. "We believe that research-based,
scientifically proven information needs to be at the core of all healthcare
decisions. If people don't check the reliability of their online sources, they
may potentially take risks with inappropriate tests and treatments, waste money,
or dismiss serious symptoms that require medical attention."
"New
technologies are helping more people around the world find out more about their
health and to make better informed decisions," said David McDaid, Senior
Research Fellow, LSE. "However, people need to make sure that the information
they find will make them better – not worse. People should check online sources
by looking for a quality mark, checking the 'about us' section on websites, and
looking at when the information was last updated."
Better access to
health information can increase patient choice and empower people by being more
informed about their symptoms and gaps in knowledge. But patients must also
beware. When a health symptom was entered on three distinct health information
websites, three very different diagnoses were generated – which could lead to
various and potentially unwarranted reactions on the part of a worried Internet
surfer.
This Bupa Health Pulse survey is the final in a three-part
series. The first set of findings on Ageing was released in September 2010 and
the second set on Chronic Disease was released in December 2010. For more
details of the survey, which includes data for all 12 countries, as well as the
full LSE report, please visit
www.bupa.com/healthpulse/healthandwellbeing.
Methodology of Bupa Health Pulse 2010
Research:
Ipsos MORI interviewed 12,262 members of the general
public across 12 markets between June 10 and July 14, 2010. These were:
Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Mexico,
Russia, Spain, and the United States. All interviews took place through Ipsos
online panels and Ipsos panel partners. Quotas were set as to be nationally
representative by gender, age and region across all markets with the following
exceptions:
- Brazil, China, Mexico and Russia: the quota for age was set to be nationally
representative up to the age of 50.
- India: quotas were set on age, gender and region to be representative of the
online population.
Data are weighted.
In the US, 1,008 members of
the general public were interviewed.
About Health Dialog:
Health Dialog Services Corporation is a leading provider of
healthcare analytics and decision support. The firm is a private, wholly-owned
subsidiary of Bupa, a global provider of healthcare services. Health Dialog
helps healthcare payors improve healthcare quality while reducing overall costs.
Company offerings include health coaching for medical decisions, chronic
conditions, and wellness; population analytic solutions; and consulting
services. Health Dialog helps individuals participate in their own healthcare
decisions, develop more effective relationships with their physicians, and live
healthier, happier lives. For more information please visit
www.healthdialog.com.
About Ipsos MORI:
Ipsos MORI is one of the largest
and best known research companies in the UK and a key part of the Ipsos Group, a
leading global research company. With a direct presence in 60 countries, its
clients benefit from specialist knowledge drawn from their five global
practices: public affairs research, advertising testing and tracking, media
evaluation, marketing research and consultancy, customer satisfaction and
loyalty.
Media Inquiries:
Kiran Ganda
Health
Dialog
kganda@healthdialog.com
617.406.5239
Footnotes:
1)
D McDaid and A-La Park. Online Health: Untangling the Web, London School of
Economics: examines the role of the internet in healthcare and contextualizes
the Bupa Health Pulse 2010 findings
2) Katy Huberty, Ehud Gelblum, Morgan
Stanley Research. Data and Estimates as of 11/2010
3) D McDaid and A-La Park.
Online Health: Untangling the Web, London School of Economics: examines the role
of the internet in healthcare and contextualizes the Bupa Health Pulse 2010
findings