Medical Research
The EveryoneHealthy projects' extensive database aims to allow medical researchers to hopefully find cures to every possible health condition by utilizing the advanced features and processes available on the EveryoneHealthy Platform.
The aim of the site is to provide medical information to public and professionals alike.
All known medical disorders and normal physiologies will be inter-connected by their common clinical features, epidemiology, biochemical processes and genetics. For example, if one selects an aspect of a disorder, a list of all other disorders or processes in which that aspect is referenced will be presented.
The end product will be a functional map of all medical information which would give a perspective through which one can find patterns previously unsought and identify areas requiring further research in this vast database of known medical information.
Regarding new information and treatments, the site will be continuously updated by us, as well as by health professionals around the world who use the site. Patients and other non-professional readers can also contribute newly found or unreported alternative therapies which would otherwise be easily overlooked and need to be researched by certified health professionals. Of course, these updates will be moderated to ensure a professional standard of information.
Researchers
Researchers could find the mind-map format of the database invaluable in finding useful areas which need further medical research. Based on this, they can either pursue established or repeatedly requested proposals or simply use the sites' inter-connected database to further their own path of research.
The statistical information could also prove useful in finding epidemiological patterns regarding symptoms and disorders.
Academics
Health related academics could find the database invaluable in its extensive coverage of each specialization. Our long term aim is to be used as a reference as easily and readily as most prescribed medical textbooks.
Health Seekers
Health and medicine has become the fourth most popular subject online behind news, travel, and weather showing that there is a need for health and medical websites (Levy and Strombeck, 2002). In America 56 % - 79 % of those online use the internet to obtain health or medical information (Andreassen et al. 2007). Among internet users in Europe (Norway, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal and Lativa) 44 % of the total sample (n=7934) and 71 % of those that were Internet users, had used the Internet for health purposes. Women were the most active health users among those online (Andreassen et al. 2007). Furthermore the number of internet uses will continue to increase exponentially (Cain and Mittman 1999). In 2001, an estimated 500 million people worldwide used the Internet (Telecordia, 2001).
Everyonehealthy has a diagnostic tool where people can search for signs and symptoms of disease, in fact one study has shown that of users which seek health/medical information online 52 % are searching for disease information (Miller and Reents, 1999).
Content for Which Users Seek Information Online:
- Disease information 52%
- Diet and nutrition 36%
- Pharmaceuticals 33%
- Online health newsletters 32%
- Women’s health 31%
- Fitness 29%
- Children’s health 15%
- Illness support groups 13%
Source: Miller, T. E., and Reents, S., The health care industry in transition: The online mandate to change. Cyber Dialogue, p. 3. 1999,
Health websites provide an avenue for health promotion in disease prevention and to promote the overall health of the population. Health-related use of the Internet supplements other health services such as going to the doctor rather than replacing face-to-face health care altogether. In one study the most common way of using Internet health sites was to read information followed by using the Internet to decide whether to see a doctor. Only 6 % cancelled or changed a doctor’s appointment based on health related Internet activity and only 4 % used the Internet to change their medicine without consulting a health professional (Andreasson et al. 2007). An American study showed that of adult Internet users 66 % looked online for information on a specific disease or medical problem and 55 % looked online for information about a certain medical treatment or procedure (Pew Internet and American Life Project 2009)
The internet provides information empowering consumers to make more informed and sophisticated choices (Mullner 2002). In one study of 7934 respondents in Europe, 25 % used the Internet to prepare for a doctors’ appointment or follow-up after the appointment. Feeling reassured after using the Internet for health purposes was twice as common as experiencing anxieties (Andreasson et al. 2007). There are some experts who believe that increased ‘patient power’ due to a higher level of knowledge among internet users, will help cut healthcare costs by reducing the number of visits to the doctor for minor problems which can be self-diagnosed and treated at home using the internet (Ojalvo 1996).
Actions Taken After Visiting Internet Disease Sites:
- Asked doctor about a prescription 54%
- Urged friend/family member to see doctor 50%
- Altered exercise/eating habits 46%
- Made treatment decision 45%
- Visited doctor 41%
- Taken prescription more regularly 33%
- Bought over-the-counter product 20%
Source: Online support groups gaining credibility. Lancet 355 (9217)
Health websites can break down barriers between patients and seeing a doctor in person over embarrassing illnesses. The Everyonehealthy website receives most of its’ hits from people seeking information over embarrassing symptoms related to sexual health. A study among high school students in the UK revealed that students would use the internet to gain information about embarrassing health issues that they felt could not be discussed with their mother (Gray et al. 2002).