The Internet is joining doctors and family members as one of the main resources people use to find answers to their health questions. Research by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project since 2002 has found that American adults increasingly use online resources, including advice from peers, as significant sources of health information. A recent survey confirms the trend.

The latest findings are based on a national telephone survey conducted in August and September 2010 with 3,001 U.S. adults, conducted in English and Spanish on landlines and cell phones. The survey updates a 2009 report by the same name and provides responses to new survey questions.

The most recent report finds that:

• One in four Internet users has watched an online video about health; tracked weight, diet, exercise routine, or other health indicator online; or consulted online reviews of drugs or medical treatments.
• Use of the Internet to access health information has declined slightly. Presently, 80% of Internet users look for health information online, down from 83% in 2008.
• Use of social network sites has increased slightly. Currently 15% of social network site users say they use services like Facebook and MySpace to get health information, up slightly from 11% in 2008.

In March 2010, the Pew Internet & American Life Project and CHCF published Chronic Disease and the Internet. The study found that, despite the wealth of medical information and medically related social networks available on the Internet, adults living with chronic conditions are disproportionately not online. According to the report, 81% of surveyed adults without chronic diseases go online, while only 62% of adults with one or more chronic conditions go online.

Both reports are available on the Pew Internet site through the External Links below.