Table 3.

Internet and social media use for health-related information and communication (n = 63).

	n (%)
Own cellphone/smartphone
Use to track health	11 (17.5)
Use to look up medical information	29 (46.0)
Used social networking sites
To get health info	30 (47.6)
To start or join a health-related group	11 (17.5)
To follow your friends’ health updates	20 (31.8)
Signed up to receive email updates about health or medical issues	27 (42.9)
Read someone’s health experience about health or medical issues online	24 (38.1)
Watched an online video about health or medical issues	37 (58.7)
Gone online to find others who might have similar health concerns	29 (46.0)
Posted comments, questions, or information about health or medical issues:
in an online discussion, a listserv or other online group forum	10 (15.9)
in a blog	8 (12.7)
on a social networking site such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google Plus	10 (15.9)
on Twitter or another status update site	9 (14.3)
on a website of any kind, such as a health site or news site that allows comments and discussion	10 (15.9)
Ever helped by following medical advice or health info on the Internet	30 (47.6)
Ever harmed by following medical advice or health info on the Internet	9 (14.3)
Electronic health literacy
Know what health resources are available on the Internet	51 (81.0)
Know where to find helpful health resources on the Internet	44 (69.8)
Know how to find helpful health resources on the Internet	44 (69.8)
Know how to use the Internet to answer own questions about health	16 (25.4)
Know how to use health information on the Internet to help me	45 (71.4)
Have the skills needed to evaluate health resources on the Internet	44 (68.8)
Can tell high quality from low quality health resources on the Internet	27 (42.9)
Feel confident in using information from the Internet to make health decisions	37 (58.7)