According to a recent survey by the National Business Group of Health, nine out of ten U.S. workers with a health condition look to sources other than their physician for advice. The findings were based on the responses of 1,588 workers between the ages of 22 and 69.;

The survey showed that over the past two years, 68 percent of the respondents researched their condition and possible treatments on the Internet. Listed below are the 10 most popular health web sites in 2007 according to eBizMBA.com.

1. Web Med http://www.webmd.com/

2. National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov/

3. Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/

4. Medicinenet.com http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp

5. everydayHealth.com http://www.everydayhealth.com/

6. Healthline.com http://www.healthline.com/

7. RevolutionHealth.com http://www.revolutionhealth.com/

8. Drugs.com http://www.drugs.com/

9. MedHelp.org http://www.medhelp.org/

10. RxList.com http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/hp.asp

The Internet wasn’t the only source of medical information those surveyed referenced. Sixty-seven percent relied on information from their health plan providers, 66 percent asked advice from friends and family members, 61 percent found information in magazine/newspaper articles, 59 percent read drug package inserts, and 54 percent sought advice from their employers.

Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said that the available medical information is too difficult for the average person to understand. However, 54 percent felt that the complexity of the information was no excuse to blindly trust that their doctor knew best.

The researchers discovered that different generations approached health care with different attitudes. Forty-five percent of respondents under age 50 prefer traditional medical procedures, while only 25 percent approve of new medical treatments. These figures were in sharp contrast with the responses of those over age 50. Thirty-six percent of them said they preferred tried and true methods, and 35 percent said they favored newer treatments.

There were also generational differences toward health care coverage. Approximately one-third of those polled under age 30 believe that if insurance covers health care costs, then patients shouldn’t concern themselves with underlying expenses. Only 14 percent of the workers age 60 and older surveyed felt this way. In addition, 47 percent of those under age 30 felt that more expensive treatments are more effective. Only 23 percent of those respondents over age 60 shared this opinion.

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