The Survey of the Demand for Health Information on the Internet

Song, Tae Min; Park, Eun Ja; Lim, Eun Ju

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the demand for health information on the internet and to get priorities in the development of health information. We classified health information into 13 types by healthcare system. The Internet survey for the general public was conducted October 23 through November 2, 2001 and the survey for health professionals was conducted October 23 through November 16, 2001 using mail. The responses of 316 laypersons and 150 health professionals were analysed. The general public ranked disease information (81.8%), self diagnosis information (79.2%), general health information (79.1%), emergency information (78.7%) highly and most health professionals needed education information (90.5%), academic information (88.5%), disease information (88.4%). Considering both need and usefulness, the health information types which need to be developed for the general public were self diagnosis information, general health information, drug information, examination information, terminology information, healthcare organization information and those for health professionals were self diagnosis information, healthcare organization information, healthcare manpower information, drug information, examination information.