Almost 63 percent Poles are looking for a treatment on the Internet

Almost three-fifths of Poles look for a way to treat diseases on the Internet. 55,8 percent checks what their disease symptoms are, 54,5 percent looking for information about drugs. More than half of the participants in the latest poll, conducted in mid-January 2022 by the BioStat® Research and Development Center, follow information focusing on a healthy lifestyle. The media partner of the study is the Medonet portal. We present the second part of a comprehensive report from the latest research on the health of Poles.

1. The Internet is a source of knowledge about health for an increasing percentage of Poles
2. 62,9 percent Poles look for a treatment online, 55,8 percent. checks the symptoms of the disease, and 54,5 percent – information about medications
3. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

What information about health are we looking for on the internet?

– The results of the study are in line with what we observe on MedTvoiLokony. Firstly, it is women who more often look for information related to health, but what is worth emphasizing – not only their own, because generally as family health managers, they also care about the health of partners, children, parents and grandparents. Secondly, most often users look for information on treatment methods or symptoms of diseases. A trend that we have been observing for several months is the growing interest in prophylaxis, i.e. content related to leading a healthy lifestyle, allowing you to enjoy your health longer – says Diana Żochowska from Medonet.

Women more often than men search the Internet for information about treatment methods (62,9% of women, while 50,5% of men), about symptoms of diseases (61% of women and 50% of men), about drugs (58,2%). % of women to 50,3% of men), as well as healthy lifestyle (55,3% of women to 46,7% of men) and medical assistance (44,8% of women to 36,0% of men). men).

The higher the education, the more often the respondents look for information on the Internet. People with higher education more often than those with professional and basic education look on the Internet about methods of treatment (difference 10,4 percentage points), about symptoms of the disease (difference 16,4 pp), about a healthy lifestyle (difference 16,7 pp), about medical assistance (a difference of 17,6 pp).

Check out the first part of the report: Telemedicine is becoming more and more popular. «Patients praise each other very much»

Health on the Internet – what information is missing?

Biostat survey participants who search for health information on the Internet most often admitted that the most difficult for them is finding information about treatments for specific diseases (34%), slightly fewer people have a problem with finding information about medical assistance, e.g. operating hours of clinics or doctor’s offices. Only 2,7 percent do not have any problems with finding the health-related information they need. respondents.

– We are an information society where information is an extremely valuable asset. We are also excited, we constantly use devices with blue screens to know more and more, and even to find diagnoses of our ailments – explains Barbara Wesołowska-Budka, psychologist, psychotherapist, sexologist from the EDUCATIO Mental Health Clinic.

– Telemedicine has sprouted quite quickly over the last two years. In a way, our patients were forced to take care of their health, but we received them largely positively. The survey still shows that the human factor is, however, quite important, for example in diagnostics, and it is best that we experience it through a face-to-face report rather than a phone call. As a society, we have gained new awareness and we are dealing with it fairly well. We see the positive features of e-visits, but we can also approach them critically, so telemedicine will not be the leading way to consult a doctor for a long time. – unless in the case of issuing and extending prescriptions and necessary referrals. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us new opportunities to function, which is beneficial. We have learned to develop new ways of doing things and use them successfully. As a society, we pass this exam positively. Time will tell if this trend continues.

The survey “Health of Poles – telemedicine in 2021” was carried out from January 10 to 17, 2022 by the BioStat® Research and Development Center using the CAWI method on a group of 2 thousand people. Poles of legal age, representative in terms of sex, age and voivodship. The survey was conducted in the media cooperation with medTvoiLokony.

The editorial board recommends:

1. “Telemedicine is a blessing in a pandemic.” The government is preparing big changes for patients
2. Myths about telemedicine. We debunk the most repeated ones!
3. Why is telemedicine gaining popularity?