7 of every 10 Spaniards checks the accuracy of medical information consulting in Internet.

-3 of every 4 Spanish (74%) would like to access your clinical history online

-a quarter of those surveyed accessing the network to seek medical advice (27%) or search experience of other patients (25%)

-medical appointments via online booking grows 14% in 2012, compared to the previous year

-8% of respondents accessed social networks to search for health information

Madrid, January of 2013- the evolution of the information society allows that currently has an easy access to all kinds of information via the Internet and a fluid communication through the use of social networks. This is one of the conclusions of the III study Bupa-Sanitas Health press that reflects trends in the health care of more than 14,000 adults in 13 countries of the world. It is the third edition of the report, published annually from 2010, and whose objective is to analyse the role of the Internet and social networks in health care at the international level.

The Spaniards, in general, commonly used Internet and social networks to keep up-to-date and up to date on information from different sectors, as well as communication of its immediate surroundings. In the health sector, the majority of the population (84%) accessing the network for topics related to healthcare.

Demand for new medical tools online

The growing and ever-increasing access to digital content over the Internet for the great part of the Spanish population has generated a significant demand for health-related tools and content.

7 Of every 10 Spaniards (74%) would be able to have a secure access on the Internet where you have access to your medical history or the results of his medical tests. The fact of being able to maintain a direct communication, immediate and fluid with a medical professional is another issue more demanded by the Spaniards. 60% Of respondents would like to be able to communicate directly with your doctor via email and to 58% would do so through an online chat.

More than half of the Spanish (57%) would be able to count on a consultation service online, which allows you to send a picture over the Internet to a medical professional to obtain a diagnosis of their State of health.

Recommendations and tips medical network

The III study Bupa-Sanitas Health press analyzes the number of people who make use of health information on the Internet to see if they are healthy, get medical advice or share experiences with other patients, among other topics. Spain is the country where fewer people, 22%, access the Web in search of information to make a self diagnosis. China is the Asian country that leads this issue with more than half of citizens (53%) that carries out this procedure. Other countries that tend to consult the network to search for health information are Great Britain (44%), United States (45%), Thailand (45%) and New Zealand (49%).

The report of Sanitas also reveals data on access to Internet of the Spaniards as a way to obtain advice or medical recommendations. A quarter of Spaniards surveyed (25%) look for tips on health and on the experience of other patients in his State, while 27% browse in search of advice on the State of health that suffers from a family member or friend. It emphasizes that 73% of Spaniards ensures that previously verifies the source of the information you are querying in the network.

In addition, the internet is a very useful tool to carry out routine procedures via online; most Spaniards (48%) ask for CITES medical online, learn about medication (50%), or seeking information about a hospital or clinic (26%) or a physician in concrete (16%).

Use of social networks

Use the Internet to learn about health-related topics is currently booming in Spain and is even reaching social networks. Although 71% of Spaniards commonly used social networks, such as facebook, twitter or myspace, 8% used to find information about the State of health.

Spain is one of the countries in which fewer citizens used social networks for health-related purposes. With 59%, China is the country making greater use of social networks to consult information related to health, according to the latest study Bupa-Sanitas Health.

Technical sheet

For the elaboration of this third study of Bupa-Sanitas Health press 2012 has surveyed via online to more than 14,000 people in 13 countries (Great Britain, Spain, Australia, Mexico, India, USA.UU. Brazil, China, New Zealand, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Hong Kong). Questionnaires were answered between March 21 and may 2, 2012. In Spain were interviewed 1,048 Spaniards aged 18 years and established quotas to ensure that sample was representative at the national level by sex, age and region.