By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cash Transfers: Good for HIV/AIDS Too
    August 9, 2012
    unnecessary medical tests
    Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
    September 5, 2013
    Image
    Mobile Health Around the Globe – mHealth Fighting Malnutrition in India
    December 17, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Do We Search For Health Information?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > How Do We Search For Health Information?
eHealthSocial Media

How Do We Search For Health Information?

Nicola Ziady
Nicola Ziady
Share
3 Min Read
Image
SHARE

Image

Contents
Most popular health websitesMost popular health searchesSummary of Findings

72% of US internet users have looked online for health information in the past year. Most search for a specific disease or medical problem (55%) or a certain medical treatment or procedure (43%), according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project survey.

Image

72% of US internet users have looked online for health information in the past year. Most search for a specific disease or medical problem (55%) or a certain medical treatment or procedure (43%), according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project survey.

More Read

What Hath EMR Wrought?
Beyond the Buzz: Scheduling Healthcare Tweets
Why SEO is the Vital Ingredient in Healthcare Website Design
Notes From Afield—#TEDMED, Day One
Social Media in Health Care: The Genie is out of the Bottle

Among these online health-seekers (who represent 59% of the total US population), 77% started at a search engine the last time they went online to look for health information, while 13% went directly to a site that specializes in health information.

online-health-information

Most popular health websites

In December 2012, WebMD led with 9.6% market share of all US visits, according to Compete data tracked by MarketingCharts. Yahoo! Health was next, with 9% share of visits.

2012-december-health-information-sites

Most popular health searches

disease-specific-information

Summary of Findings

  • For one-third of U.S. adults, the internet is a diagnostic tool
  • One in three American adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition
  • Eight in 10 online health inquiries start at a search engine
  • Half of health information searches are on behalf of someone else
  • Specific diseases and treatments continue to dominate people’s online queries
  • Women are more likely than men to seek health information online
  • Younger adults and minorities lead the way with mobile health information search
  • Half of smartphone owners have used their phone to look up health information
  • Patients seek counsel from fellow patients and caregivers
  • Internet access drives information access

Source ::

The Experian Hitwise data featured above is based on US market share of visits as defined by the IAB, which is the percentage of online traffic to the domain or category, from the Experian Hitwise sample of 10 million US internet users. Experian Hitwise categorizes websites into industries on the basis of subject matter and content, as well as market orientation and competitive context.

image: search/shutterstock

 

TAGGED:internet search
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

hospital cyber attack
BusinesseHealthNews

Two Hospital PR Case Examples: One Bizarre, One Just Crazy

April 1, 2016

Socialcam: Mobile Video Sharing Made Easy

July 7, 2014

Two Truths and a Lie about Physicians and Social Media

April 2, 2016

Web-Based Patient Engagement Lowers Anxiety for First-Time Colonoscopy Patients

November 27, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?