Two end-of-year surveys of the top searches for health information show interesting differences between searches conducted on mobile devices and those via more “traditional” methods. They also show marked differences between the results of the two surveys for searches using mobile devices.
A survey published by Healthline Networks, a San Francisco-based health search and information services provider, released the most searched health terms across the Healthline HealthWeb in 2011. It showed that people using desktops and laptops search for “more serious” (sic) conditions, such as diabetes and cancer, while users turned to mobile devices to search for private issues, such as those related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and mental health conditions [5].
The survey found that the top searches for health issues on mobile devices tend to be about private conditions, with the top five being:

1. Chlamydia
2. Bipolar disorder
3. Depression
4. Smoking/quit smoking
5. Herpes.

In contrast, the top Web-based searches using other devices (desktop PCs, laptops, etc) are quite different, with the top five being:

1. Cancer
2. Diabetes
3. Symptom
4. Pain
5. Weight.

Many of the reports of the Healthline survey seem to repeat the somewhat simplistic analysis that privacy issues are the major factor in devices used for searches, and that some issues are inherently more “serious” than others; eg “Personal phones are individually owned whereas desktop computers are usually shared (e.g. among families, co-workers) so people will opt for the search method that gives them the greatest sense of privacy” [2]; “Smartphones and tablets may be prized for their mobility, but they also offer a certain degree of privacy that’s attractive to people conducting health searches” [7].
Many of the reports seem to ignore the fact that the majority of users of mobile devices, in particular smartphones, are in the younger age brackets that might be more interested in searches relating to STDs [6]. This point is made by some commentators who give a perhaps more thoughtful analysis (eg [1]), who says that: “I have a feeling that a lot of the conclusions are mistaken and that the biggest factor ... is the demographic of those who have access to the Mobile Web in 2011. … To me the statistics are merely showing that conditions which more typically affect young people are scoring higher with the mobile web users ... the PC/Web traffic seems to suggest more a higher average age of patient eg. conditions and symptoms that need to be managed.”
A contrasting analysis of health searches shows that too much reliance should not be given to just one survey. WebMD's survey of “top mobile health terms” for 2011 found that the top five searches were for:

1. Ringworm
2. Hemorrhoids
3. Turf toe
4. Strep Throat
5. Pregnancy Symptoms.

While not identical terms to the Healthline survey findings, they are in a similar broad category of issues likely to be of interest to younger users.

Sources

1. 3G Doctor (2011; Dec. 29) Contrasts between Consumer Health Searches on Mobile Web & PC Web. Blog post. Available online at
   http://mhealthinsight.com/2011/12/29/consumer-health-search-differences-across-mobile-web-and-pc-web/
2. Copeland, D (2011; Dec. 28) „Chlamydia“ Most Frequently Searched Health Term On Mobile Devices. Available online at
   http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/chlamydia_most_frequently_searched_health_term_on.php
3. Gullo, C (2011; Dec. 16) Top 10 health searches from mobile devices in 2011. Available online at http://mobihealthnews.com/15325/top-10-health-searches-from-mobile-devices-in-2011/
4. Hitti, M (2011; Nov. 27) WebMD Top Mobile Search Terms. Available online at http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/webmd-top-mobile-search-terms
5. MarketWatch (2011; Dec. 19) Year in Review: Healthline Networks Unveils Top 10 Health Searches on Web and Mobile. Press release. Available online at
   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/year-in-review-healthline-networks-unveils-top-10-health-searches-on-web-and-mobile-2011–12–19
6. Pew Internet (2011; July 11) 35% of American Adults Own a Smartphone. Available online at http://pewresearch.org/pubs/2054/smartphone-ownership-demographics-iphone-blackberry-android
7. Wicklund, E (2011; Dec. 29) Healthline ranks its top 10 mobile, online health searches in 2011. Available online at http://mhimss.org/news/healthline-ranks-its-top-10-mobile-online-health-searches-2011