Among caregivers who use the Internet, 38% say they consult online reviews of specific drugs or medical treatments, compared with 18% of non-caregivers who use the Internet, according to a report by Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.
The report is the result of a collaboration between Pew's Internet & American Life Project and the California HealthCare Foundation. CHCF publishes iHealthBeat.
According to the report, 21% of online caregivers look up online reviews of doctors or other health care providers and 20% look up online reviews of hospitals or other medical facilities. Among non-caregivers who use the Internet, 13% look up online reviews of doctors or other providers and 12% look up online reviews of hospitals.
The report is based on a nationally representative telephone survey of 656 caregivers who use the Internet and 1,409 non-caregivers who use the Internet. The survey was conducted between Aug. 9 and Sept. 13, 2010.
Source: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, "Family Caregivers Online"