Mobile phones are the new on-the-go health reference

Mobile phones are the new on-the-go health reference
Internet users have long turned to the Internet to search and discuss their health issues. A new survey reveals now it's the turn of mobile phones to play a role in the maintenance and monitoring of a user's wellbeing.

by Helen Leggatt

According to a recent survey (.pdf) conducted by the Pew Internet Project, of the 85% of American adults who use a mobile phone, 17% have used it to look up health or medical information online.

Mobile phone users aged 18-29 were found to be much more likely than older users to have searched for health information from their phones. Twenty-nine percent of 18-29 year olds had used mobile Internet to find health information on-the-go, compared with 18% of 30-49 years olds, 7% of 50-64 year olds and 8% of those age 65+.

The use of health-related apps was also highest among 18-29 year olds. While almost one in ten of the 3,001 mobile users surveyed had an app that helps them manage their health, that figure rose among 18-29 years olds to 15%.

The number and variety of health-related apps available is immense - from calorie counters and personal health records to quit smoking programs.

Interestingly, urban cell phone owners are more likely than those who live in suburban or rural areas to have a mobile health app on their phone.

Health is also a popular topic on the Internet. Recent research from Synthesio found health to be the top topic of conversation online. Fourteen percent of the 200 million conversations monitored by Synthesio concerned people's health, followed by gaming and cars.