A new report, "2024 US Healthcare Consumer: How the Internet and Social Media Are Affecting Patient Choices," added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offerings, highlights the growing reliance of US consumers on digital channels for healthcare research and decision-making. According to a December 2023 survey of 1,391 US consumers, over half (54%) have self-diagnosed medical conditions based on online information, with search engines and medical websites being the primary sources.
The report delves into the extent to which online-acquired information, including potential misinformation, influences patient actions and healthcare decisions. It also explores generational differences in how consumers use social media and AI for initial medical research and price comparisons for medications, services, and insurance.
The report offers critical insights for healthcare and pharmaceutical marketers, emphasizing the implications of these digital trends. Among the key topics covered are the influence of online information on healthcare choices, the types of research conducted by consumers, and the frequency of accurate self-diagnosis. Additionally, it addresses concerns from US physicians about the likelihood of patients receiving faulty medical information from generative AI.
