Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Tuesday December 11, 2001
Reshma Kapadia
A survey conducted by the foundation found that one in four people 15 to 24 years old say that they get "a lot" of health information online and a significant proportion of youth are acting on what they find.
"We had no idea that so many young people were going online to get health information. A lot of us assumed that they were going online just to download the latest Red Hot Chili Peppers song so that was a surprise. It is even more so than adults," said Victoria Rideout, vice president and director of the program for the Study of Entertainment Media and Health at the foundation.
Nearly 40 percent of them saying they have changed their own behavior because of information they found on the Web.
The survey, Generation Rx.com, includes findings on how young people use the Internet as a health resource, their concerns about confidentiality, their opinions on filtering technology and online pornography, and new data on where and how often teens and young adults are going online.
Half of all online youths have searched the Web for information on specific diseases such as cancer or diabetes and sensitive, youth-oriented topics, such as HIV/AIDS, birth control, and sexually transmitted diseases, are also popular.
About one in four of those surveyed have looked up information on weight issues, mental health, drugs and alcohol, and violence.
"Confidentiality is so important and at this point most young people have faith that the Internet offers them that confidentiality," Rideout said.
The majority of youth who have surfed the Web for health information do so just a few times a year, but nearly four in 10 do so at least once a month, the survey found.
Among those surveyed 90 percent have gone online and three out of four have Internet access from their home.
About 17 percent of young people said they would trust health information found on the Web "a lot" while 40 percent said they would trust it at least "somewhat."
Rideout said the study, one of the first to look at this age group's interest about health issues on the Web -- raises a series of questions, including the quality of the information available and targeted at this age group.
Among 15 to 17 year-olds who were looking for health information online, nearly half said they have experienced being blocked from sites that they said were non-pornographic due to filtering, the survey found.
011211
RE011220
Copyright © 2001 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .