In our society where technology is a large part of our everyday routine, it is common to seek medical information online. Approximately 80% of internet users seek health information online. These methods of seeking information can be very beneficial to some patients.
Internet users search for everything from diseases,medical problems, treatments, procedures, doctors, health professionals, hospitals, medical clinics, food safety, recalls, drug safety, and pregnancy. More specifically, 66% searching for disease information and 56% searching for medical treatments. Online information can be especially helpful for patients with anxiety, depression, PTSD, patients with geographic obstacles, and poor access to care. These online resources can be used to seek support groups, share experiences, and seek health information. These online support groups are very important for individuals with rare illnesses because these patients are often socially isolated from others. These tools can be used to build a community among these small groups of individuals. Values such as anonymity and ease of access are vital in these groups and they can help increase knowledge and change attitudes towards these illnesses.
Online resources are also especially helpful for those who fear the stigma that comes along with mental illness. Many use web-based portals to remain anonymous and are more willing to receive online treatment information this way. For example, 33% of soldiers are more likely to use these therapies as well as ethnic minorities. Online information can be very important to these patients, especially if it the only outlet to care they may have.
From experience, I can say that seeking health information online is beneficial, easy, and very commonly-used. Even working as a patient care technician, I have seen a wide variety of individuals using web-based portals to seek health information. Patients, nurses, and even physicians use these simple methods of seeking vital information.
I agree that seeking medical information online can be extremely helpful, however I think it is important the people know how to use it properly and with discretion. I definitely know of a few people who google search their symptoms and one result is a mild cough and the other is something very sever like lung cancer. If patients do not have insurance and do not have access to healthcare, the results can be quite alarming based off a quick google search and they may be left to wonder whether their condition is the sample case 1 or sever case 2 without any answers.
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