Patients surveyed were asked for what reason primarily they searched online for health information. 89.5% answered that they wanted to stay updated on the latest news and research. 67.2% wanted to hear from an expert. 59.5% wanted to gain basic understanding of a health concern, 61.0% wanted to hear from or meet others with the same condition and 38.4% wanted to verify what a doctor had said.
The last question in the survey asked patients if their outlook for dealing with their illness has improved (specifically if they had gained a better understanding of their illness and options for a treatment plan) because of information gleaned online.
An overwhelming 72.9% replied “Yes” to this question.