Everyday Health Study: Nearly 50% of Adults Get Health Information From Online Advocates

, , , ,
New Data Highlights Important Resource for Patients and Caregivers
 
HealthEVoices-Infographic_Bloggers-Blog-for-Advocacy-and-Connectivity 
 
 
CHICAGO, April 15, 2016 — A new study released today by Everyday Health, Inc., a leading provider of digital health marketing and communications solutions (NYSE: EVDY), at the HealtheVoicesTM Conference shows that health-minded people, those with chronic health conditions, and caregivers are turning to online patient advocates to find credible health information. The HealtheVoicesTM Conference is the only summit created exclusively for online health advocates across a broad spectrum of conditions.
 
“Patient advocates, caregivers, and bloggers represent an important channel for Everyday Health to deepen our connection with the people we serve, especially those with chronic conditions,” said Amy O’Connor, Vice President, Editorial Director, EverydayHealth.com. “Sponsoring the HealtheVoicesTM Conference reaffirms our commitment to providing our 50+ million monthly consumer audience with timely, relevant content by supporting those who share their personal health experiences.” 
 
According to the study, which surveyed 2,670 adults online during January and February of 2016, online health advocates are the fifth most trusted resource for those searching for health and medical information, and nearly half of those surveyed use blogs and/or online communities to gather information related to their condition.
 
“While the patient-physician relationship is and remains the foundation for medical decision-making, health bloggers represent a new era of digital patient advocates who are using their voice and personal experiences to serve as a source of inspiration and information to their peers — offering a level of support that goes beyond the doctor’s office,” says Sanjai Sinha, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City and an Everyday Health, Inc. contributor. 
 
Additional key findings of the study include:
 
  • Consumers surveyed who use blogs and online communities are digitally savvy, also using other digital resources like social networking sites, health information websites, and pharmaceutical websites.
  • Nearly two-thirds of consumers surveyed who use blogs (61 percent) engage with them at least once a week, nearly a quarter (24 percent) visit daily, and more than one-third (35 percent) visit weekly.
  • Two-thirds (66 percent) of consumers surveyed who visit blogs and online communities go to these sources to get information they need to make health decisions about their conditions, and nearly two-thirds (60 percent) are inspired by bloggers’ personal stories.
 
“The key takeaway from the study is that online patient advocates are not only influential, but they have a responsibility to make sure that their information is scientifically sound and accurate,” said O’Connor.  
 
The HealtheVoicesTM Conference is a first-of-its-kind summit that brings together online health advocates from across a broad spectrum of health conditions for an opportunity to learn, share and connect. Now in its second year, the HealtheVoicesTM Conference is sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in partnership with Everyday Health, Inc., and designed with the guidance of an advisory panel of experienced patient and caregiver advocates. Featuring thought-provoking keynote presentations and personalized meeting tracks, the weekend-long event is designed to provide an audience of international attendees with resources and inspiration to more effectively connect and engage with online communities through their blogs, forums, and other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. More information can be found at www.HealtheVoices16.com and you can follow the conference on Twitter at #HealtheVoices16. 
 
For more information about the study or the conference, please contact Chris Lisi at 202-549-0696 or [email protected] 
 
About Everyday Health
Everyday Health, Inc. is a leading provider of digital health marketing and communications solutions. Everyday Health attracts a large and engaged audience of consumers and healthcare professionals to its premier health and wellness properties, and utilizes its data and analytics expertise to deliver highly personalized content experiences and efficient and effective marketing and engagement solutions. Everyday Health enables consumers to manage their daily health and wellness needs, healthcare professionals to stay informed and make better decisions for their patients, and marketers, health payers and providers to communicate and engage with consumers and healthcare professionals to drive better health outcomes. Everyday Health’s content and solutions are delivered through multiple channels, including desktop, mobile web, and mobile phone and tablet applications, as well as video and social media.
 
About Janssen 
At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people with serious diseases throughout the world. Beyond its innovative medicines, Janssen is at the forefront of developing education and public policy initiatives to ensure patients and their families, caregivers, advocates and healthcare professionals have access to the latest treatment information, support services and quality care. Please visit www.janssen.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JanssenUS.   
 
###