Americans with Chronic Ailments Going Online for Support

For Americans with chronic health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and lung conditions, and cancer, the Internet has become a lifeline to communities of support.

According to a new report by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, about one-in-four Americans with chronic conditions have reached out to others online. This "peer-to-peer healthcare" allows both individuals with chronic problems, as well as those with rare diseases (who often feel isolated through their condition), find the information and kinship they need.

The report data supports this trend:

"Twenty-three percent of internet users living with chronic conditions have looked online for someone with similar health concerns, compared with 15% of those who report no conditions."

As online support forums, groups, and list serves grow, more Americans than ever will use the Internet to supplement the advice of health care professionals and the support of existing networks. Yet even in this area, the digital divide leaves certain communities out.

"One in five internet users (18%) have gone online to find others who might have health concerns similar to theirs.

"Internet users ages 65 and older are less likely than younger internet users to have done this (10%, compared with 18% of those ages 50-64, for example). Spanish-dominant Internet users are also significantly less likely than English-dominant internet users to have looked online for someone with similar health concerns (6%, compared with 19%)."

The intersection of health care and the Internet is growing every day and we need to ensure that all individuals, regardless of age and background can get connected.

Peer-to-peer Healthcare (PEW)