Consulting the internet: Using online search engines and its impact on the practice of Medicine in the 21st century

Abstract

The internet has become an ever-expanding treasure trove of health information, which is easily accessible and mobile, for both healthcare personnel and laypersons . As more information is available, both doctors and patients are able to use the information to their advantage – doctors to augment diagnoses and learning, and patients, to be more informed about their conditions. However, patients may not always have the intended success with internet searches, and this can result in wrong diagnoses, over-diagnoses, missed symptoms, patient denial, and the undermining of the doctor-patient relationship. Furthermore, the reliability of information found online could be called into question, although studies seem to have found it to be largely accurate. In conclusion, it seems that modern doctors of the 21 st century should and need to be tech-savvy, especially in terms of the internet resources available to them. In addition, they should realize that patients may now assume a more active role in their health decision-making process, and therefore make the appropriate adjustments in terms of the evolving doctor-patient relationship.