Doctors usually tell us that checking medical symptoms on the internet can make us confused or can lead to an incorrect self-diagnosis. But, a study published in The Medical Journal of Australia in August said searching health symptoms online before going to the doctor is helpful.
According to the study, those who are browsing about their medical problems before seeking help were more informed about their condition when they finally see a doctor. Researchers said patients were able to ask specific questions and can effectively communicate with their health providers when they checked their conditions online.
Patients involved in the study said they only visited the most trusted websites, such as information from universities or hospitals, as well as from online encyclopedias. However, the majority of people check their conditions from unreliable websites, making them think their condition is getting worse, the South China Morning Post reported.
Dr. Gordon Cheung Chak-man, a general practitioner at The London Medical Clinic in Hong Kong's Central district, said the internet gives us easy access to get information about our health symptoms, but health authorities or professionals do not verify a lot of studies available online. He noted some websites provide a long list of possible diagnoses, causing patients to incorrectly diagnose themselves which lead them to delay seeking medical advice.
Google can still help us checking our medical symptoms, but stick to reputable web sources to recognize good medical information, said Dr. Jason Brockwell, an orthopedic hip surgeon at Asia Medical Specialists in Hong Kong. For instance, he said the Health On the Net Foundation based in Switzerland certifies medical information online - just look for the HONcode logo on health websites.
Dr. Brockwell also said references to the medical literature should support medical statements found on the internet. Medline - a free service provided by the US National Library of Medicine - and Google Scholar are reliable resources. Additionally, accurate online medical information can also be found in reputable organizations such as the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence or the US Centers for Disease Control.
Meanwhile, a bad or unreliable website can be identified if individual anecdotes, instead of scientific studies, only back the claim. Dr. Brockwell explains that an accurate scientific study always supports a claim, and study authors always share it with readers. And regardless, it's important to share with your doctor whatever information you find online - whether you are sure or not. Informed patients likely do better and discussing with your doctor what you found online could increase understanding for the both of you.
