• by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, October 10, 2007

Web users with medical problems are particularly likely to go online to research their conditions and treatments, according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Seventy-three percent of Web users with chronic disabilities said they have searched for information about particular conditions, compared to 62% of users without such disabilities. The report was based on an August survey of 2,928 U.S. adults.

In another notable finding, 64% of online adults with chronic conditions used the Web to research specific procedures or treatments, compared to 49% without long-term illnesses or disabilities. Also, the majority of online users (51%) with chronic conditions also researched prescription or over-the-counter drugs online, compared to 35% of those without illnesses.

Overall, however, people with chronic disabilities were less likely to go online than those without. Just 51% of adults with illnesses said they went online, compared to 74% of people without chronic conditions.

Pew's report comes as Web companies are aiming to carve out new niches in online health care. Microsoft last week launched HealthVault, an online health care management system that lets people store their medical records. Meanwhile, AOL founder Steve Case likewise recently got into the online health care act with Revolution Health, which also lets people manage their medical history online.