Searchers Rarely Vet Online Health Sources

Can there be an online placebo effect, or is the health information online just really that good? That could be investigated, but it seems the average online health information seeker wouldn't go so far as to find out. Although 80 percent of American Internet users (113 million adults) have searched for one of 43 percent of their traffic from search. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of health information seekers visit more two or more sites during their sessions, so at least they're consulting several sources - especially since almost half of them (48%) are seeking information on behalf of a loved one. More than half (53%) say online information had an impact on how they handle health issues; 58 percent say online information influenced a decision about how to treat an illness; 55 percent say online information changed their overall approach to maintaining their health. The vast majority (74%) of respondents felt reassured by the information they found - so much so that over half (51%) were eager to spread the information around. But again, only a few of them really checked their sources. Fifteen percent "always" check the source and date. Only 10 percent said "most of the time." Pew blames health websites for the "diminished diligence" in checking sources and dates. The US Department of Health and Human Services reported that just four percent of popular websites disclose their sources. Just two percent said how the content is updated. Because of sheep-like trust of online health information seekers, new types of sites and search services may find an important niche - a controlled virtual medical environment may one day prove more valuable than traditional search with paid inclusion, relevancy gaming, and the like.