Internet users fail to check source of data

Most internet users start at a search engine when seeking health information online, but few bother to check the source or the date of the information they find, according to a new report.

The Internet Health Search 2006 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project in Washington DC, found that the typical health information session online starts at a search engine, includes multiple sites, and is undertaken on behalf of someone other than the person doing the search.

But 58 per cent of those who indicated that their information search had "had an impact" on them said it had affected a decision about how to treat an illness or condition. Some 55 per cent said the information changed their overall approach to maintaining their health or the health of someone they cared for.

The survey, conducted twice yearly as part of the Pew project, showed that 10 million Americans use the internet daily to find health information, and 80 per cent used the internet to hunt for health information in 17 different health areas in the past six months. This number has remained stable for four years of surveys, despite the growth in internet use and availability of broadband connections.

Women seek more health information than men - about 54 per cent of women had sought such information in comparison with 48 per cent of men.

Most health information seekers used at least two websites during a typical search. Only 27 per cent began at a health website.

Despite this heavy use of the net for health information, only 15 per cent of those surveyed said they "always" checked the source and date of the information they found online, while 10 per cent said they did "most of the time".

The survey found that three-quarters of internet users said they "only sometimes", "hardly ever" or "never" performed such a basic check, "which translates to about 85 million Americans gathering health advice online without consistently examining the quality indicators of the information they find", the study found.

Nonetheless, only about 3 per cent reported that they or someone they knew had been "seriously harmed" by health advice found online, while about one-third said they or someone they knew had been "significantly helped" by information found online.

A third said they had spoken to their doctor about information found online.