A recent report found that 54% of Americans have self-diagnosed using online information, with search engine and medical information websites being the most commonly used sources.
The "2024 U.S. Healthcare Consumer: How the Internet and Social Media Are Affecting Patient Choices" by EMarketer.com surveyed 1,391 Americans in December 2023 about what online sources they use to self-diagnose a condition.
Here are the most commonly used platforms:
Note: Respondents could select more than one answer.
Search engines: 79.5%
Medical information website (e.g. WebMD, Healthline): 59.4%
Hospital or health system's website: 22.8%
Social media platforms: 14.9%
Physician's website: 13.2%
Online medical journals: 10.3%
Health insurer's website: 9.5%
Prescription drugmaker's website: 8.7%
Government health portals (e.g., CDC): 7.6%
Retail pharmacy website (e.g., CVS, Walgreens, Walmart): 7.2%
ChatGPT, Bard, or other AI service: 4.4%