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Online health data draws young adults
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 15, 2010
More than 61% of Americans looked up health information on the Internet in 2009, says a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (link).
The National Health Interview Survey was the first nationally representative household survey to collect data on using health information technology. It found that the Internet has become a major source for adults looking for health information.
The study found that nearly 50% used the Internet to visit Web sites that provided information on specific medical conditions or problem. Younger adults, between the ages of 18 and 49, were more likely than older adults to use health IT, the study found. Among adults between the ages of 18 and 54, women were more likely than men to use health IT.
Analyses were based on data collected from 7,192 adults ages 18 to 64 from January through June 2009.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/15/bibf0215.htm.