In a previous entry, I discussed the perils of internet self-diagnosis however the service has proven to be useful.
In the recent Wolters Kluwer Health Point-of-Care survey, Google and Yahoo were cited by 46 percent of physicians as a frequent source of information about patients health, diagnosis, treatment and care. And 60 percent of physicians have admitted to changing their original diagnosis based on internet research.
These seem like alarmingly high numbers. Shouldn't we trust that our doctors are using more sophisticated forms of research than what we have available in our own homes?
What this study did not site is what type of sources the physicians in question were consulting from the search results. It is probably safe to say that most were referencing scholarly journals and other sources. It can also be assumed that they may be referencing online communities comprised of healthcare professionals all over the world. In some cases, the physicians may be doing a more throughout diagnosi.
Psychology Today recommends being "smart" while using these online resources. They recommend people "self-screen - but not self-diagnose." When consulting the internet regarding your personal ailments, consider the source--make sure the information is credible. Also consider the context in which the information is being used. You may want to reference a source like HealthFinder.gov which is ran by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which offers information from trusted sources.
The Wolters Kluwer Health Point-of-Care survey also found that "53 percent (of physicians) believe that easier access to more medial knowledge by patients has had a positive impact on the doctor-patient relationship, leading to more informed discussions with patients." The survey also found that only one in five physicians believe this readily available information has been detrimental and lead to misinformation or an incorrect self-diagnosis.
Although internet diagnosis has some positive aspects, it has to be remembered that it is an easy and slippery slope into being a cyberchondriac.
Sources:
Docs turn to Google, Yahoo for health info survey says http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/survey-docs-turn-google-yahoo-health-info
Don't Be a Cyberchondriac: Use the Internet to Self-Screen, Not Self-Diagnose http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-equation/201001/dont-be-cyberchondriac-use-the-internet-self-screen-not-self-diagnose
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