Nearly all demographic groups report significant increases in
this activity, with the exception of those over 65 and those who
did not complete high school. A few groups stand out: cell phone
owners who are African-American, college graduates, women,
those with an annual household income between $50,000 and
$74,999, and those between the ages of 30 and 49. Smartphone
ownership has greatly increased over the past two years and no
doubt had an effect on this trend.
Text messaging is a nearly universal activity, especially
among younger cell phone owners, but it has not yet had a significant impact on the health market. While 80 percent of cell
phone owners say they send and receive text messages, just 9
percent of cell phone owners say they receive any text updates
or alerts about health or medical issues.
source, all data: Pew Internet/CHCF Health survey, aug. 7–
sep. 6, 2012. n= 3,014 adults ages 18+. Interviews were
conducted in english and spanish, on landline and cell phones.
Margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points for results based on
cell phone owners. For more information, go to http://www.
pewinternet.org/reports/2012/Mobile-Health/key-Findings.aspx
Mobile health Information by phone: health Status
(percentage of cell phone owners within each group who
use their phone to look for health or medical information
online)
Group & health Status
of Respondents
all cell phone owners
31%
Caregiver
Yes 37
no 27
Those with chronic conditions
no conditions 34
one or more conditions 26
faced medical crisis in past 12 months
Yes 40
no 30
Significant health change in past 12 months
Yes 41
no 28
source: Pew Internet/CHCF Health survey, november 2012
