ROCHESTER, Minn., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet is largely responsible for the general public's growth in knowledge, understanding and wisdom about health and medicine. Below are 1999 highlights about one of the pioneering health information Web sites: Mayo Clinic Health Oasis, http://www.mayohealth.org

Most accessed topics: Chronic conditions and acute illnesses, particularly depression and cancer.

Most popular site features: Virtual Cookbook; Ask Mayo Clinic experts; and interactive quizzes about immunizations, stress, secrets of longevity, high blood pressure, bug bites, candy, ear infections, children's bowel habits, and safety.

Primary reasons users go to the site:

• To prepare for a doctor appointment
• To learn more after a doctor appointment
• To decide if they should go to the doctor

Primary ways users apply information from the site:

• To learn how to take care of themselves when they are sick
• To stay healthy
• To eat better

Busiest month: November, 1999: 1.9 million user sessions

Growth in visits:

• Jan. 1997 -- 66,000
• Jan. 1998 -- 645,000
• Jan. 1999 -- 1,057,000

• Nov. 1997 -- 367,000
• Nov. 1998 -- 982,000
• Nov. 1999 -- 1,900,000

Special events: Mayo Clinic Health Oasis reports breaking national news about:

• The association between fidgeting and weight loss. http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9901/htm/fidget.htm
• Prophylactic mastectomy, a new preventive option for women at risk for breast cancer http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9901/htm/breastop.htm
• New treatment option for patients with severe attacks of multiple sclerosis http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9909/htm/multiple.htm
• The association between memory loss & Alzheimer's disease. http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9903/htm/memorylo.htm

Awards:

• People's Choice Webby Award
• Finalist, Global Information Infrastructure GII Awards
• World Wide Web Health Award
• Outstanding Web Site, WebAward competition

Plans for Year 2000: Extensively expand health education services, add personalized services and unveil new health information internet portal.

SOURCE: Mayo Foundation

WEB SITE: http://www.mayohealth.org/

WEB SITE: http://www.mayo.edu/