â–¶ Digital Doctoring Popular: A study by TNS and Ogilvy PR finds that “Dr. Google” is becoming a first-line defense for the health of today’s American families. One in three women (36%) agree that, at times, the health information that they find online does a better job at keeping her family healthy than seeing a doctor. Other findings include:
• 67% of women say they use the Internet to obtain health information because they can find it quickly; they can get information that they need at any time of day (64%); and it is less expensive than going to the doctor (29%).
• Half of the respondents (52%) found it stressful to keep up with the increasing number of ways to get information (e.g., Facebook, work and personal e-mail, IM). And 1 in 5 women (19%) expect the time they spend keeping up online to increase over the next year.
• (31%) believe, compared to last year, that their ability to manage their family’s healthcare costs is worse, while only 10% believe their ability to manage their family’s healthcare costs is better compared to last year.
Source: TNS/Ogilvy PR
â–¶ Public’s Policy Views Energetic: On the topics of energy and the environment, Americans have clear thoughts on the changes needed to improve policy, according to the Widmeyer Polling and Research national omnibus poll conducted this month. Specific findings include:
• Energy: Over half of Americans (53%) believe reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil is the most important way to improve the United States’ energy policy. Reducing foreign oil dependency was 41 percentage points ahead of the next option.
• Environment: More Americans believe expanding incentives to improve energy efficiency for homes and businesses (45%) is the most important policy change. Second is preventing pollution to waterways from agriculture run off (15%) and third is increasing land conservation efforts (10%).
• The Economy: Americans are divided on the most important change needed to help the economy. At the top of the change equation are a quarter of adults (24%) who believe repealing the health care reform law is the adjustment needed.
Source: Widmeyer PR
