---
title: "Crowdsourcing a Survey: Health Topics"
description: "One of our core health findings (8 in 10 internet users, or about two-thirds of U.S. adults, look online for health information) is based on a series of questions that is tweaked in each survey. We re-word or separate concepts, cut some topics, a..."
date: "2010-07-16"
authors:
  - name: "Susannah Fox"
    job_title: "Former Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/susannah-fox/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2010/07/16/crowdsourcing-a-survey-health-topics/"
categories:
  - "Health Policy"
  - "Healthcare Online"
  - "Medicine & Health"
  - "Online Search"
---

# Crowdsourcing a Survey: Health Topics

The [Pew Internet & American Life Project](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/) will soon go into the field with our next health survey and we need your help.

One of our core findings (8 in 10 internet users, or about two-thirds of U.S. adults, look online for health information) is based on a series of questions that is tweaked in each survey. We re-word or separate concepts, cut some topics, and add others. Are there topics missing from the list? Which ones deserve to be repeated this year? No promises, but I asked for similar feedback in [2008 ](http://e-patients.net/archives/2008/09/crowdsourcing-a-survey-health-topics.html)and implemented a few of the suggestions (see the "2008 only" topics below).

a. Information about a specific disease or medical problem (asked in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=300&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=specific%20disease))

b. Information about a certain medical treatment or procedure (02, 04, 06, 08: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=certain%20medical%20treatment%20procedure))

c. Information about experimental treatments or medicines (02, 04, 06, 08: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=experimental%20treatments%20medicines))

![](http://e-patients.net/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif)

d. Information about alternative treatments or medicines (02, 04, 06, 08: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=alternative%20treatments%20medicines))

e. Information about diet, nutrition, vitamins, or nutritional supplements (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=diet,%20nutrition,%20vitamins,%20nutritional%20supplements))

f. Information about exercise or fitness (02, 04, 06, 08: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=exercise%20fitness))

g. Information about prescription or over the counter drugs (02, 04, 06, 08: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=prescription%20over%20the%20counter%20drugs))

h. Information about immunizations or vaccinations (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=immunizations%20vaccinations))

i. Information about how to quit smoking (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=quit%20smoking))

j. Information about problems with drugs or alcohol (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=drugs%20alcohol))

k. Information about depression, anxiety, stress or mental health issues (02, 04, 06, 08: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=depression,%20anxiety,%20stress))

l. Information about environmental health hazards (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=environmental%20health%20hazards))

m. Information about sexual health (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=1/1/2002&edate=12/31/2006&k=sexual%20health))

n. Information about a particular doctor or hospital (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=particular%20doctor%20hospital))

o. Information related to health insurance (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=1/1/2002&edate=12/31/2006&k=specifically%20health%20insurance))

p. Information about Medicare or Medicaid (02, 04, 06: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=1/1/2002&edate=12/31/2006&k=medicare%20medicaid))

q. Information about dental health (2006 only: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=dental%20health))

r. Information about doctors or other health professionals (2008 only: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=1/1/2008&edate=12/31/2008&k=doctors%20health%20professionals))

s. Information about hospitals or other medical facilities (2008 only: results)

t. Information related to health insurance, including private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid (2008 only: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=1/1/2008&edate=12/31/2008&k=health%20insurance,%20including%20private%20insurance,%20Medicare%20Medicaid))

u. Information about how to lose weight or how to control your weight (2008 only: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=mm/dd/yy&edate=mm/dd/yy&k=lose%20weight%20control))

[IF NECESSARY:** such as immunizations and shots**]

And here's the catch-all to scoop up any topics we missed:

w. Information about any other health issue (2008 only: [results](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Data-Tools/Explore-Survey-Questions/Roper-Center.aspx?t=&sdate=1/1/2008&edate=12/31/2008&k=any%20other%20health%20issue))

Please leave a [comment ](http://e-patients.net/archives/2010/07/crowdsourcing-a-survey-health-topics-2.html#comments)on e-patients.net if you have input to share.