About a fifth of American adults say that a disability, handicap, or chronic disease keeps them from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other activities.

But according to a new report released earlier this week from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, adults living with a disability or chronic disease are less likely than others to go online. The report found that once online, people with chronic health concerns turn into avid health consumers. Only 51% of those living with a disability or chronic disease go online, compared to 74% of those who report no chronic conditions.

Those with chronic conditions are more likely than other e-patients to report that their online searches affected treatment decisions, their interactions with their doctors, their ability to cope with their condition, and their dieting and fitness regimen.

In addition to providing national telephone survey data, the Pew report includes quotes from online essays written by members of an online support group, the Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR.org).

Read the full report: Pew Internet: E-patients With a Disability or Chronic Disease (PDF)

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 11 Oct 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.