IBM Study: Canadians using Web more for self-diagnosis
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/08/c0186.html
TORONTO, March 8 /CNW/ - A growing number of Canadians are researching
health information on the Internet to diagnose their own medical conditions,
says HealthInsider, a national survey by IBM.
IBM's latest health survey of 2,500 Canadians found of those who used the
Internet to obtain health information, 37 per cent had done so in an attempt
to diagnose themselves. This is a 48 per cent increase over 2003.
Additionally, more than a quarter of those seeking health information
looked to confirm or question their physician's diagnosis. The study also
revealed the number of Canadians using the Internet to check the results of
medical research, speak to others with the same health condition or to manage
a health condition has increased since 2003.
"The Internet has become the main source of health information for
approximately three in 10 Canadians," said Neil Stuart, a partner in IBM
Business Consulting Services' healthcare practice. "In 2003, the Internet
surpassed the physician as Canada's primary source for health information. Now
we see a trend toward Canadians using physicians and the Internet equally,
indicating online medical information is being used more prudently."
While more Canadians are using the Internet for diagnostic purposes, the
vast majority feel it is difficult to determine which information found online
can be trusted and that the quality of medical information on the Internet
needs to be improved, the study said.
The top criteria used to determine the validity of the health information
on a particular Web site are: endorsement by a recognized expert or authority;
an affiliation with a credible health organization (such as a medical school);
or third-party content control (such as accreditation by the government).
Canadians use the Internet to get health information because it's
convenient, with 44 per cent of respondents saying that it was "easy and
simple to get health information online," and 30 per cent saying online
information is "accessible 24 hours a day."
Other findings of interest:
- Those who use the Internet in Ontario are most likely to use it to get
health information, and Saskatchewan Internet users are the least
likely.
- Of the Canadians who obtained health information on the Internet,
almost 50 per cent in BC and Ontario spoke with their doctors about
the health information they found online, compared to 42 per cent in
Alberta and 38 per cent in Saskatchewan
- While Internet use was highest among Canadians age 15-24, this group
used the Internet the least to find health information
- Males and females reported similar rates of Internet use, but females
were more likely to search for health information online
About HealthInsider
HealthInsider is one of the most comprehensive consumer reports currently
available to the Canadian healthcare industry, providing subscribers in-depth
data and analysis on consumer attitudes toward health policies, programs,
products and services. HealthInsider surveys 2,500 Canadians, with a national
margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points in 19 samples out of
20.
For more information, visit http://www.ibm.com/ca
For further information: Leslie Plant, IBM Canada, (416) 478-9840,
laplant@ca.ibm.com; Erik Van Drunen, Ketchum Public Relations,
(416) 544-4904, erik.vandrunen@ketchum.com
|
IBM Study: Canadians using Web more for self-diagn
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 09:26:27
