The rise of ‘Dr. Google’: The risks of self-diagnosis and searching symptoms online
Paging Dr. Google
Online health information took on a new importance during the pandemic, when using online sources to assess COVID-19 symptoms and self-triage was encouraged. However, the act of self-diagnosis online is not new.
In 2013, it was reported that more than half of Canadians polled said they used Google search to self-diagnose. In 2020, 69 per cent of Canadians used the internet to search for health information, and 25 per cent used online sources to track their fitness or health.
Virtual care and online self-diagnosis share some beneficial traits, such as the convenience of not having to schedule an appointment, saving travel time to the doctor’s office and avoiding waiting rooms. However, the key difference between virtual care and Googling symptoms is that there is no direct communication with a physician when self-diagnosing online.
Some may choose to self-diagnose because they feel it gives them greater control over their health, while others may find it helps them better communicate symptoms to their physician. Some patients may fear misdiagnosis or medical errors.
Over time, people can get better at diagnosing using the internet. Online sources can provide information and support for a specific medical condition. They may also be useful for people with ongoing symptoms who have been unable to get a diagnosis from health-care professionals.
Using the internet to learn more about a condition after being diagnosed by a health-care provider may be useful and may decrease the stress of a diagnosis if the sites consulted are trustworthy.
However, trying to select credible sources and filter out misinformation can be an overwhelming process. Some information found online has little to no credibility. A study focusing on the spread of fake news on social media found that false information travelled faster and wider than the truth.
Risks of self-diagnosis
The risks of using online health resources include increased anxiety and fear. The term cyberchondria can be defined as someone experiencing a high amount of health anxiety from searching symptoms on the internet.
Self-misdiagnosis is also a danger, especially if doing so means not seeking treatment. For example, if a person confidently self-diagnoses their stomach pains as the stomach flu, they may hesitate to believe their doctor’s diagnosis of appendicitis.
There is also a risk of becoming so certain that one’s self-diagnosis is correct that it is difficult to accept a different diagnosis from a health-care professional. Misdiagnoses can even be very serious if it results in failure to detect a possible heart attack, stroke, seizure or tumour.
Further risks may include increased stress on both the patient and doctors, ineffectively taking or mixing medications and increased costs for treatments or medicines that may not be necessary.
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Reflection: What do you think are the benefits and risks of self-diagnosing through google?
#MentalHealth #Google #HealthAnxiety
In my experience self diagnosing has a lot of benefits. I would absolutely prefer official medical diagnoses but those don't always come.
There are mental health benefits. Being incorrectly told one has a terminal diagnoses, and something which has gone on long enough where when looking into it they shouldn't even be alive anymore is rather traumatic. Figuring out a proper diagnosis even if just self-diagnosed can help reduce some of that stress.
Any type of diagnosis, self or otherwise csn affect the care of other conditions, including knowing treatments which may be harmful and therefore being able to avoid them or knowing to take extra precautions.
There is also the acute self-diagnosis of issues that are connected to chronic conditions. I don't get every HAE attack diagnosed by a medical professional. Or every new eczema rash spot. I can self treat and with something like HAE that can be lifesaving.
I get annoyed so many people think you go to a doctor and get diagnosed. Or go, have a few tests and then a diagNosis is made. Far too often it's not like that at sll.
@AffyAvo
Thank your comment! Yes self-diagnosing can be a really good thing to do since it can reduce stress depending on the nature of the diagnosis we give ourselves. Although it can also cause a great deal of fear and anxiety and if we are truly worried we have something dangerous, like a disease, it's best to go check it at the doctors office since it might actually be something but it might also not be something.
@professionalVision2624
Online medical information is a tool ...... one that can be extremely helpful if tool is used correctly
used incorrectly a tool could be harmful like trying to use pliers instead of a hammer... not a good idea.
depending on the medical situation where you are some places are trying to shove people through on a conveyor belt giving the easiest possible guess and moving on ....... i have had many a family member and friend seriously misdiagnosed.......
researching and knowing as much as you can after a diagnosis can also help make sure you are seeing all options in treatments etc..... many doctors medical or mental professionals may not be aware of various new treatments or considered other options.... Far too many people IMO rely too heavily on doctors being correct .......they are practicing medicine and are human .... mistakes can be made.
@toughTiger6481
Thank you for sharing your experiences! Mhhhh self-diagnosing can be both positive and negative and it can certainly lead to much fear and anxiety both for the person in questions a swell as for their loved ones. And yes you are right, medical professionals might make a mistake and misdiagnose. We know our bodies and we can often be the key in correcting such mistakes as well as figuring out what we do and and if the symptoms match those that the doctor points out.