Patients Flock to the Web

As social media outlets continue to dominate the web, it comes as no surprise that users are finding medical advice and support on the web as well. After all, being diagnosed with an illness or disease can be hard to deal with, especially alone or without anyone to relate to. While family and friends might be supportive of a newly diagnosed person, he/she might want help, advice and support from others going through the same thing. In fact, studies are showing that more and more patients are flocking to the web to find these things in health-related communities.

Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project’s studies have shown that 61 percent of American adults look online for medical advice and information. According to CNET, “more Americans are reading commentaries about medical issues, consulting rankings or reviews of doctors, or listening to health-related podcasts”. As previously discussed, patients are taking the digital direction in healthcare. Wellbeing websites are being used on a more regular basis. Hospitals are taking advantage of real-time updates from sites like Twitter, and more and more patients are participating regularly. Pew’s finding showed that a “smaller group of so-called e-patients, 20 percent, actively post comments and reviews on different online list-servs, blogs, or message boards”. As the web connects patients digitally, more and more of them are finding comfort in solidarity.