Majority of smartphone users access health info
Well over half (62 percent) of smartphone users are using their devices to get health information, according to a report from the Pew Research Center.
U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015 found that 64 percent of Americans are smartphone owners and many consider smartphones the main way to get online. Just 35 percent of Americans owned a smartphone in 2011.
Of those using a smartphone for online health information, 77 percent are 18 to 29 years old; 60 percent are 30 to 49 years old; and 39 percent are over the age of 50.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said they don't view smartphones as always needed, while 46 percent said they believe they could not live without the tools.
Text messaging is the most widely used smartphone feature, though voice and video calling also are popular.
Read the complete report.
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.