[lifestyle ] More online searches for health and lifestyle information

[_Happy boy]

 

In the first six months of 2020, nearly 80 percent of the Dutch po[CENSORED]tion aged 12 years and over used the internet to search for health information, book appointments with their general practitioner or specialist or buy medicines. The internet was also increasingly being used for online consultations, to view medical data or to search for health apps. This is evident from a survey on ICT usage by households and individuals in 2020, conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The survey on ICT usage by households and individuals is conducted annually by CBS in the months April through June. Last year, approximately 6.5 thousand people aged 12 years and over participated in this survey. With the available data, it is not possible to determine the effect of the initial measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic on online health activities.

Appointments and medicine purchases increasingly often via the internet
During the first six months of 2020, 72 percent of the Dutch po[CENSORED]tion aged 12 years and over went online to look up information about health and lifestyle, including information on diseases, nutrition and exercise. The share stood at 69 percent in 2019 and 58 percent in 2016.

Last year, 31 percent of those aged 12 years and over used the internet to make appointments with a GP or medical specialist. This was still 28 percent in 2019 and 58 percent in 2016.

Dutch people were also more likely to buy medicines online. In 2016, only 7 percent purchased medicines via the internet; this had doubled to 14 percent in 2020.

Over one-quarter request online consultations
More than one-quarter of Dutch people said they had used online services from their GP or health centre in 2020. This concerns requesting a repeat prescription or receiving an online consultation.

In addition, 18 percent viewed their own or family members' medical records online. Four percent indicated they had purchased health or sports apps.

Another 5.4 percent used health devices such as smart scales or smart blood pressure monitors last year.

Mainly 25 to 44-year-olds frequently online for health
Health-related online searches were made by 25 to 44-year-olds in particular; in this age category, 82 percent had done so in 2020. People aged 75 and over were least likely to look online for information (39 percent).

The share of people aged 25 to 44 booking appointments online (37 percent) exceeds that in the other age categories.

In the age group 25-44 years, 19 percent indicated that they had purchased medicines via the internet. People between the ages of 12 and 25 were least likely to buy their medicines online (8 percent).

Higher-educated most likely to look up health information
The way people use the internet for health-related matters varies not only between age groups but also between different levels of education. Looking up information about health is more prevalent among people with higher education (84 percent) than among those with a medium education level (76 percent). Likewise, a higher proportion of medium-educated people do so than low-skilled people (57 percent). More medium and low-skilled people searched the internet for health information in 2020 compared to 2019.

The share of higher-educated booking appointments online (38 percent) is higher than the share of lower educated (21 percent). Last year, an increase in online booking of appointments relative to 2019 was mainly seen among the medium-skilled.

Online purchases of medication were also more prevalent among the higher educated (20 percent) than among those with medium (14 percent) and lower (8 percent) education levels.