The purpose of this literature review is to provide an overview of online health information-seeking behaviour by adults from the perspective of both the health consumer and the health professional. One of the more surprising findings of the literature review is that 80 percent of physicians reported that patients presented printed internet-sourced health information at visits – a challenge to the traditional doctor–patient relationship.

The literature review also shows that women are more likely than men to search for health information and that online health consumers tend to be more educated, earn more, and have high-speed internet access at home and at work.