While only 7 percent of adults say they trust search engines like Google to keep their data private, sentiment is much different for healthcare organizations, according to a new poll by Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The poll, conducted with 1,009 adults by telephone from July 16-21, found that of 11 institutions, Americans have the greatest trust in healthcare and banking companies. Specifically, 34 percent of adults said they trust their physician's office will keep their personal data secure. Fewer respondents — 24 percent — said the same about hospitals, and only 17 percent said the same about their health insurers.
When it comes to adults who searched for health information or health products online, 30 percent expressed concern about how their search data would be used by companies trying to sell them medical goods or treatment.
The Harvard/Politico poll also looked at adults' use and trust in patient portals. Twenty-three percent of adults never set up a patient portal. Of those who do use patient portals, the poll found 81 percent of adults use the portal to check test results, while 59 percent use it to schedule appointments and 42 use it to request a prescription refill. Twenty-six percent of respondents expressed concern about their portal data being accessed by an unauthorized person.
To view the full poll, click here.
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