Scientist Heal Thyself?

When questioned as to where they go to seek medical advice, 44% of respondents to a Science Advisory Board-sponsored Instant Poll state that they rely on the Internet after their primary care doctor. Of the 300+ researchers who participated in the poll, only slightly more than one-quarter actually seek out specialists to follow-up with specific medical issues.

ARLINGTON, VA (PRWEB) April 15, 2005 -- When questioned as to where they go to seek medical advice, 44% of respondents to a Science Advisory Board-sponsored Instant Poll state that they rely on the Internet after their primary care doctor. Of the 300+ researchers who participated in the poll, only slightly more than one-quarter actually seek out specialists to follow-up with specific medical issues.

The traditional sources of information such as books and/or magazines and friends and/or family garnered even less utilization at 14% and 9%, respectively. Only 6% of those questioned would ever turn to a therapist (e.g., massage, herbalist, chiropractor, etc.) for health recommendations.

Scientists are a particularly savvy group of individuals when it comes to accessing and processing online information," explains Tamara Zemlo, Ph.D., MPH, Executive Director of The Science Advisory Board. Through their daily work, they have become adept at securing often obscure bits for use in literature reviews, grant applications, database searches, manuscript preparation, etc. and hence employ these skills in their personal life."

The result of this adroitness and familiarity with the Internet has made them discriminating health care consumers. Scientists expect to retrieve medical advice quickly and on-demand, and this need for immediacy is best fulfilled via the Internet.

For more information about The Science Advisory Board or this study, please contact Dr. Tamara Zemlo at 703.778.3080 x25 or at t.zemlo@scienceboard.net. The full report can be accessed at http://www.scienceboard.net/pdf/04-083_cloning_rpt_screen.pdf.

About The Science Advisory Board
The Science Advisory Board is an online panel of more than 24,900 scientists, physicians and other life science and medical professionals from 62 countries. By convening electronically, Science Advisory Board members participate in online studies to voice their opinions on issues that directly affect the evolution and development of the tools and techniques of their professions. Scientists can contribute their own views on the tools and techniques of their field by participating at http://www.scienceboard.net. The Science Advisory Board was organized in 1997 by BioInformatics, LLC (http://www.gene2drug.com), a research and consulting firm located in Arlington, VA.

Contact:
Dr. Tamara Zemlo
Director, Scientific & Medical Communications
The Science Advisory Board
2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 250
Arlington, VA 22201
703.778.3080 x25 phone
t.zemlo@scienceboard.net
http://www.scienceboard.net

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