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Objective: To determine the proportion of South Australians accessing online health care information, predictive characteristics of online health seekers, nature of the information sought and consumer behaviour., Methods: A probability-based survey of 3,027 South Australians, aged 15 years and older, as part of the Spring 2000 South Australian Health Omnibus., Results: Internet access decreases with age, while the prevalence of online health seekers is constant (26% to 28%) among people aged between 15 and 54 years. Predictive characteristics of online health seekers include gender, age, education and income. Most commonly sought information is the cause or description of disease (60%). Consumers use online health information as a second opinion (19%), discuss it with their doctor or pharmacist (16%), or change their health care management (11%)., Conclusions: The Australian prevalence of online health seekers is likely to be slightly higher than 21%., Implications: The Intemet can deliver preventative and clinical health information to a critical mass of Australians, but poorer and older Australians may be unable to access it.

While there is a global trend to switch medicines from prescription to non-prescription status, Australia has created a unique schedule of 'pharmacist only medicines' (POM). Such medicines may provide consumers with greater choice and control of health care decisions. However, the impact of these actions has not been evaluated. Public health concerns including the appropriate use of medicines, awareness and equity of access to POM, and access to information on POM are discussed using antifungal vaginal products as an example. The National Medicines Policy advocates a partnership approach to achieve improved health outcomes by the quality use of medicines, however currently no data on POM are available. Recommendations include changes to legislation, public health data collection and the provision of quality information including pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions.