Health information's just a click away
Tuesday, November 15, 2006
By COURTNEY KLEMM - H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR - Doctors might warn against people diagnosing and treating themselves based on information they find online, but the vast majority of Web users in the United States continue to seek online answers to their medical questions.

According to a study recently released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project about online health searches, 80 percent of U.S. Web users search for health information online, which was also about the same proportion as in 2002 and 2004.

"Now more than ever, consumers and patients are really being asked to take responsibility for their own health," said Emily Anderson, Web producer for the HealthCentral Network Inc., which offers more 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness Web sites that provide interactive and in-depth medical information, tools and resources, and connections to communities of medical expertise. "People are going online to seek information more than ever, either before seeing their doctor or to find more information after having their diagnosis. People also use the Internet to find support from individuals who are or were in the same situation as they are."

Seeking medical advice online should not be done without precaution, Anderson said.

"One of the most important things is, while there are certainly very high-quality Web sites on the Internet, people need to be careful at the kind of information they are looking at. The content should be reviewed by a medical professional, and people need to remember there is a clear line between advertising and editorial content," she said.

The HealthCentral Network strives to not only provide in-depth information about medical conditions but also to put people in contact with others with the same or similar conditions, which is what many people desire after diagnosis, Anderson said.

"After their doctor, the number one person people want to talk to is a person who has been through the same situation," she said. "The Internet is an environment where people can find others and talk to them about managing the experiences that come with dealing with a chronic disease or condition on a daily basis."