Internet Self-Diagnosis: The Perils (part 1)
The internet provides us with services like WebMD and mobile applications like iTriage that will collect information on our symptoms and ailments then report back to us the possible causes, sicknesses and diseases.
But is this type of self-diagnosis doing more harm than good?
For instance this is what might happen if you ask “Dr. Google” what is wrong with you:
Some doctors feel that these online diagnostics are creating “cyberchondriacs,” a common term used to describe otherwise rational internet users who latch on to the worst diagnosis thrown at them by search engines, message boards and diagnostic services. For example, a user googles the cause of her three day migraine and most of the top results include brain tumor and scattered among the first page are some results about stress and eye sight issues but the user immediate jumps to the worst—brain tumor.
It is also ironic to note that even WebMD recognizes the peril of Cyberchondria buried within their Family Webicine blog from December 2008. But it does not dare to place this warning on its homepage as a valuable reference in easing the imaginations of their users.
So why are more and more people turning to self-diagnosis through the internet? Most health professionals just chalk it up to the rise in general internet usage and the prevalence of hypochondriacs throughout history.
Not only is this practice of online self diagnosis dangerous but it can also be deadly. Some people use the internet to gain piece of mind about an ailment when a doctor's appointment seems unnecessary or too costly without insurance. Some doctors feel that this practice is causing people to feel that regularly scheduled doctors appointments are unnecessary and this will cause a decline in preventative health measures in the long run.
So what should you do to instead of turning to the internet for help? The Huffington Post suggests:
- Engage in an open dialogue with your physician for a diagnosis or advice
- Develop an inner circle of wise people to go to for advice
- Seek out smart accredited authorities and newsletters
- Be your own advocate; No one knows your body better than you
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:
Cyberchondria: The perils of internet self-diagnosis http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/cyberchondria-the-perils-of-internet-selfdiagnosis-1623649.html
Internet vs. Doctor: Our Obsession with Self Diagnosis http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-pamela-peeke/internet-overload_b_830616.html
Family Webicine: Cyberchondria http://blogs.webmd.com/all-ears/2008/12/cyberchondria.html
Docs turn to Google, Yahoo for health info survey says http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/survey-docs-turn-google-yahoo-health-info
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