Use and outcome of online health information services: a study among Scottish population

Reports on a research designed to find out how people in Scotland access and use online health information. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a survey of two sets of population in Glasgow - a group of 64 users from the general public and a group of 24 post graduate students from a university in Glasgow. Use of the Internet for health information was found to be much lower in Glasgow than in the previous UK studies particularly those using online surveys. Noted that people located online health resources primarily by searching and browsing. Healthy eating, exercise and alternative medicine were the most commonly sought topics. Approximately half the survey participants felt online health information influenced their treatment. Originality/value: The study incorporates both Internet users and non-users, as well as proficient internet users, and therefore provides a more balanced view.