People who seek out medical information and want to have a more active role in their health care are increasingly becoming the norm. To learn more about this growing community of engaged patients, Inspire, the largest online community of e-patients in the United States, surveyed 13,633 of their members, representing 100 countries on six continents.
The results of the company's survey were recently released in the online report "Insights from Engaged Patients: An analysis of the inaugural Inspire Survey" (link to .pdf). Among the key findings:
- About 55 percent of patients are "well-prepared for their doctor's visits" and bring a buddy to assist with their appointment. (As one survey participant reported, “The more I inform myself with accurate information on the medications taken, or the medications available, the more I am able to have meaningful conversations with the doctors concerning treatment.”)
- 52 percent of patients are largely responsible for initiating conversation with their physicians about potential new treatments.
- Two-thirds of patients use social networks as a source of information and support for their health conditions.
- Half of all patients reported having difficulty with the affordability of their medications at some point in their life.
- 72 percent of U.S.-based patients reported experiencing some increase in their healthcare costs.
You might think that since the people surveyed were members of an online health community, they'd all be savvy, avid users of every kind of heath app and gadget. Nope. Instead, 72 percent of survey-takers reported they'd never used a smartphone app for their health-care needs. Moreover, less than half of the people surveyed reported feeling that such an app would be useful to them.
The rest of the report, which illustrates there are clear barriers that prevent people from adopting health-care technology and from getting the care and medications they need, is worth a read. (And, as a reminder, we've partnered with Inspire on a patient-focused series that appears here once a month.)
Previously: Engaging and empowering patients to strive for better health, “What might they be interested in learning from me?” Tips on medical advocacy and A wake-up call from a young e-patient: "I need to be heard"
Photo by UW Health
