• November 27, 2000

A new survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, asked more than 12,000 people about their Internet habits in order to discover how the Internet has changed the way people make health decisions.

Of those surveyed, 92% said their online search was useful and 81% said they learned something new. About 47% of those seeking help for themselves said the answers influenced their decisions about treatment, and 36% of people looking on behalf of others said the same.

Health-centric Web services such as WebMD and DrKoop.com have emerged to provide answers to health questions, but most of the people surveyed had scattered searching pattern that brought them to many sites.

About 69% of Internet users questioned said they are "very concerned" that a website might sell or give away information about their online activities, and 81% said they want to have the right to sue if a Web company violates its privacy policy.

The survey also found that 86% of health seekers are concerned about getting unreliable health information. Still, 64% of the respondents said they had never heard about the websites they ended up consulting before they began their search.

- By Anya Khait