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Finding health advice online

The most likely groups to look for health advice online, according to this Pew national survey are: Adults who, in the past 12 months, have provided unpaid care to a parent, child, friend, or other loved one Women Whites Adults between the ages of 18 and 49 Adults with at least some college education Adults living in higher-income households

The most likely groups to look for health advice online, according to this Pew national survey are:
* Adults who, in the past 12 months, have provided unpaid care to a parent, child, friend, or other loved one
* Women
* Whites
* Adults between the ages of 18 and 49
* Adults with at least some college education
* Adults living in higher-income households  (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Tribune
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When you want to know about a medical condition, are you more likely to go to a medical professional or do your own web search? Check out these results to see what this study found. All statistics are calculated from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010 with 3,001 adults, ages 18 and older.

Also, tune in for the April 19th chat about pseudoscience on the Internet and avoiding incorrect medical information, with Chicago Tribune reporter Trine Tsouderos.

(Source: The Pew Internet Project and California HealthCare Foundation and PEW Medical Advice 2010)

The least likely groups to look for health advice online, according to this Pew national survey are:* African Americans* Latinos* Adults living with a disability* Adults ages 65 and older * Adults with a high school education or less* Adults living in low-income households ($30,000 or less annual income)

The least likely groups to look for health advice online, according to this Pew national survey are:
* African Americans
* Latinos
* Adults living with a disability
* Adults ages 65 and older
* Adults with a high school education or less
* Adults living in low-income households ($30,000 or less annual income)  (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Medical advice on cellular phone's Internet service

17 percent have used their phone to look up medical information, and 29 percent of cell owners (ages 18-29) have used their cell phones for medical searches.  (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Medical professional advice

44 percent of Internet users look online for information about doctors or other health professionals.  (Glenn Koenig/Los Angeles Times)

End-of-life advice

7 percent of Internet users look online for information about end-of-life decisions.  (Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune)

Elderly advice

12 percent of Internet users look online for information about long-term care for an elderly or disabled person.  (Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Food safety advice

29 percent of Internet users look online for information about food safety or recalls.  (Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images)

Drug safety and recall advice

24 percent of Internet users look online for information about drug safety or recalls.  (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

Pregnancy advice online

19 percent of Internet users look online for information about pregnancy and childbirth.  (Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images)

Medical problem advice

66 percent of Internet users look online for information about a specific disease or medical problem (top spot).  (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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