45% of U.S. adults report that they live with one or more chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, but also less common conditions like lupus and cancer. They are more likely than other adults to be older, to have faced a medical emergency in the past year, and, as other studies have shown, to contribute to the explosion of health care costs in the U.S.

A new national survey by the Pew Research Center, supported by the California HealthCare Foundation, explores how adults with chronic conditions gather, share, and create health information, both online and offline.

The Pew Research Center’s analysis indicates a “diagnosis difference” that is tied to several aspects of health care and technology use. For example, holding other variables constant (including age, income, education, ethnicity, and overall health status), the fact that someone has a chronic condition is independently associated with being offline.

The diagnosis difference cuts another way, too. This study provides evidence that many people with serious health concerns take their health decisions seriously—and are seriously social about gathering and sharing information, both online and offline.

Internet users living with one or more conditions are more likely than other online adults to:

• Gather information online about medical problems, treatments, and drugs.
• Consult online reviews about drugs and other treatments.
• Read or watch something online about someone else’s personal health experience.

“Our research makes it clear that when the chips are down, people are most likely to get advice from a clinician, but online resources are a significant supplement,” says Susannah Fox, lead author of the study and an associate director at the Pew Research Center. “Just as significantly, once people begin learning from others online about how to cope with their illnesses, they join the conversation and also share what they know.”

ABOUT THE SURVEY

The results reported here come from a nationwide survey of 3,014 adults living in the United States. Telephone interviews were conducted by landline (1,808) and cell phone (1,206, including 624 without a landline phone). The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Interviews were done in English and Spanish by Princeton Data Source from August 7 to September 6, 2012. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is ±2.4 percentage points. In this survey there are 1,498 respondents who are living with one or more chronic health conditions. Margin of error for results based on that group is ±3 percentage points.

Support for this study was provided by the California HealthCare Foundation, an independent philanthropy committed to improving the way health care is delivered and financed in California. Additional analysis and editorial guidance was provided by Kristen Purcell and Lee Rainie. An extensive appendix contains stand-alone analysis of each group included in the survey: the general population, adults living with high blood pressure, adults living with lung conditions, adults living with diabetes, adults living with heart conditions, adults living with cancer, and adults living with other chronic health conditions. Since one in five U.S. adults is living with two or more conditions, we cannot compare the groups.

See on www.pewinternet.org