In the digital age, when information is at our fingertips, how we use the resources available is important. This is particularly relevant in the context of health, where access to reliable, understandable information can have a direct impact on quality and length of life.
We asked Internet users how we use the Internet, how we assess the reliability of information, who we consult with for the information we obtain, and how the information affects us. These results are key to understanding how we can better meet our information needs and, consequently, how we can improve our health.
The survey sheds light on the relationship between health and the information available about it online. Interpreting the data collected, we observe that respondents are characterised by caution and a critical attitude towards health information found online, especially if it comes from celebrities or influencers.
There is undoubtedly a noticeable confidence in the ability to find reliable health information, these findings go hand in hand with the small number of people who consider the health advice given by popular people on the internet to be credible or valuable.
A significant proportion of respondents express scepticism before discontinuing a drug on the basis of negative reviews found online. This attitude is in line with previous observations showing a tendency to evaluate health information critically.
The study demonstrates the importance of developing the ability to critically evaluate health information, especially from unverified sources, which is key to maintaining and improving one's own health.
The survey conducted on health in the context of Internet use, revealed interesting findings on the attitudes and behaviour of respondents. It shows that almost two thirds of the respondents (61.03%) confirm that they are aware of where to find reliable and credible health information online. Despite this, more than a quarter (25.06%) feel uncertain or even admit to a complete lack of knowledge on the subject.
In terms of seeking information about symptoms of diseases on online forums and social media such as Facebook. The results indicate that the Internet, especially online forums and social media, is a popular source of medical information for the majority of respondents (46.10%). However, there is also a large percentage who do not appear to rely on these sources (46.44%). This highlights the complex nature of acquiring medical information and shows that different groups of people rely on different sources. From a public health perspective, these findings may point to the need to educate patients about the reliability and credibility of medical information available online.
The question on consulting with others the information received from doctors gave interesting results. It turned out that 35.2% people confirmed such actions, while a group (54.65%) does not do so. The results show that a smaller proportion of respondents (35.20%) tend to consult information received from a doctor with other people than those who do not (54.65%). These data may indicate the role that communities - both online and offline - play in the health process. Some people may feel that additional feedback or support helps them to understand and manage their healthcare. On the other hand, there is also a large group of people who seem to rely entirely on information from their doctor.
The question of discontinuing medication after reading or hearing negative reviews about it online (not from doctors) became an extremely important issue. Responses were divided on this topic, with 35.54% respondents confirming such action and 54.82% strongly denying it. Although the majority of respondents appear to rely on medical advice from professionals, there is a significant group that may be susceptible to external influences such as opinions on social media or online forums. These data point to the need to educate patients about the importance of medical advice and the potential risks of changing treatment regimes without consulting a doctor.
When it came to trusting health information published online by well-known personalities (e.g. celebrities, influencers), the results were unequivocal. Only 6.46% respondents admitted that they trust such sources, while as many as 84.07% categorically denied this.
Similar trends were observed when a question was asked about the use of health advice given by well-known people on the Internet. Only 6.37% agreed that they follow such advice, and the vast majority - 84.33% - denied this.
The internet, without doubt, plays a key role as a source of health knowledge. Nevertheless, there are several areas that may require increased awareness, education or access to information.
- Finding trustworthy health information online: Although the vast majority of respondents agreed that they knew where to look for solid health information online, about a quarter (25.06%) of them expressed uncertainty or lack of knowledge on this topic. It may be crucial to target educational efforts towards these individuals to highlight which sources are trustworthy, how to recognise unreliable information and the potential consequences of using inappropriate health information.
- Discussion of health with others: Given the divided opinions on whether respondents consult others about information received from a doctor, it is important to emphasise the importance of communication with qualified health professionals. This can counteract the spread of anecdotal or false health information and help to correctly understand and interpret health information.
- Responsibility in the use of health information: the study found that a significant percentage of respondents (35.54%) are willing to abandon the use of a medicine based on negative reviews found online. This phenomenon is worrying, as such decisions should be made after consulting a qualified professional. Educational campaigns may be necessary to raise public awareness of the potential consequences of such actions.
It is significant that the majority of respondents seem to approach this data with a certain degree of caution and scepticism, especially if the information comes from people such as celebrities or influencers. This suggests that survey participants have the ability to critically evaluate the sources from which they draw information. Therefore, understanding how others use the available health information online may help them to better understand and navigate through the thicket of information available online. Above all, it seems to emphasise the importance of a critical approach to health information, especially from unverified sources.
The study clearly shows that the Internet strongly influences how people take care of their health. The majority of people use the Internet to find health information, and many say they know which sources are trustworthy.
However, there is a group of people who are unsure or do not know where to find reliable health information on the Internet. There is also a group that makes health decisions, such as giving up medication, based on opinions found online. These results indicate that there is still a need for education about health in a digital context.
The results show that the Internet has become an important tool for public health and has the potential to develop further as a tool to improve the health and well-being of the population. However, these results also show that there are areas that need more attention, such as health education and awareness raising.