More Americans are turning to the web for medical advice, a new
study reports. Fifty-nine percent of American adults have looked
online for health information in the last year, according to a
report released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project on
January 15. One in 3 adults surveyed have used the internet
specifically to figure out a medical condition. Forty-one
percent of those who used the internet to figure out a medical
condition said that a medical professional confirmed the
diagnosis they found online, while 18 percent say a medical
professional did not agree with the diagnosis. Thirty-five
percent didn’t consult a medical professional. “Many have now
added the internet to their personal health toolbox, helping
themselves and their loved ones better understand what might be
ailing them,” the study reports, also careful to mention that
the study “measures the scope, but not the outcome, of this
activity.” Some other highlights from the study: - Women are
more likely than men to go online to diagn