Twelve percent of Internet users say general health Web sites influence their health care decisions very much, while 32% say they somewhat affect their health care decisions, according to a new survey by Jupiter Research.
Four percent of respondents said that prescription drug Web sites, government Web sites and health plan Web sites influence their health care decisions very much. Meanwhile, 3% of survey respondents said that blogs, support groups and other social media have a strong influence on their health care decisions.
Still, doctors, friends and family have the most influence over respondents' health decisions.
Fifty-six percent of respondents said that doctors influence their health decisions very much, and 21% said that doctors somewhat influence their health decisions. Meanwhile, 15% of respondents said that friends or family influence their health decisions very much, and 43% said friends or family affect their health decisions somewhat.
Results are based on an August survey of 2,168 Internet users.
Source: Jupiter Research, "Online Health Information -- Examining Authority and Influence"