Looking for drug information is the one activity that is significantly more popular among internet users with chronic diseases.
You may have seen the headline that U.S. adults living with chronic disease are significantly less likely than healthy adults to have access to the internet (62% vs. 81%). I finally got a chance to read and analyze the full report “Chronic Diseases and the Internet” sponsored by the Pew Internet Project and the California HealthCare Foundation released March 24, 2010.
Having a chronic disease is generally associated with being older, African American, less educated and living in a lower-income household. The fascinating conclusion of this research is that when these demographics are factored out, having a chronic disease in and of itself has an independent, negative effect on someone’s likelihood to have internet access.
Once Online, They Get Social
Once online, the data shows having a chronic disease increases the probability that you will take advantage of social media to share what you know and learn from peers.
Read More