Do we trust and are we empowered by “Dr. Google”? Older Spaniards’ uses and views of digital healthcare communication

• Focus group participants who look for information online were found to apply appropriate criteria to differentiate its reliability in general terms.
• None of the participants mentioned or seemed to know whether there were official criteria to give guarantees of the reliability of the information. Nor were they aware of the possibility that some healthcare institutions may use their websites to “sell” certain therapies or drugs.
• Online healthcare information is giving older people the chance to take more responsibility for their own health and, when well founded and well used, it can act as part of a safety net that complements the work of healthcare professionals.
• Being able to compare and contrast the information received from one's physician is in itself an empowering development.
• Seniors’ use of online health information shows a nuanced understanding of its uses, seeing its value but also registering its potential for fostering “cyberchondriasm.”

By 2050, 34.5 % of Spaniards will be over the age of 65, making Spain's population the third oldest in the world. Ageing populations present numerous challenges and opportunities and these are particularly apparent in the area of healthcare and health communication. Longer life expectancy pushes greater demand for information regarding health and healthcare institutions are exploring ways of meeting these demands in an effective and efficient manner. This study listens to the voices of older people themselves, exploring seniors’ use of digital communication to find information related to health and healthy living. Part of a wider project examining the use of digital health communication for active aging by Spanish health institutions, this research used focus groups to explore the extent to which older people trust and feel empowered by digital media in finding out about health issues. It found that online healthcare information is giving older people the chance to take more responsibility for their own health and, when well founded and well used, it can act as part of a safety net that complements the work of healthcare professionals. Being able to compare and contrast the information received from one's physician is in itself an empowering development.