'Dr. Google' Dominates for Health Advice during the Pandemic

Have you ever used Google to research the symptoms you were experiencing?

As the pandemic continued to limit our mobility, different online platforms have been maximized to meet the needs of consumers. One of these platforms is the search engine giant "Google" wherein people often go to for help. During the pandemic, it has proved its place once more as a liaison between the gaps in people's medical accessibility.

According to research, more people are turning to "Dr. Google" to find answers to questions about illnesses, accidents, and other issues. In 2021, more than half of citizens of the European Union (EU) claimed they looked online for health information. Finland had the highest number in all of Europe, with 80% of respondents admitting they have searched online for medical advice. While Cyprus reported the largest growth in the EU, growing from 28 percent to 74 percent between 2011 and 2021, the Netherlands was not far behind at 77 percent.

In a technological age, having a platform for accessible information may be helpful, but only to an extent. The validity of symptom-checking apps and websites, where users are requested to identify their symptoms and are subsequently provided a list of potential diagnoses, was examined in a 2020 study by Edith Cowan University. The findings revealed that only 36% of the online checks were accurate and only 49% of the recommendations on when and where to get medical care were reliable.

Michella Hill, the lead author of the study, issued a warning that these websites frequently lack regulation and may not have access to your medical history or your other symptoms. She argued that while seeing "Dr. Google" shouldn't take the place of seeing a real doctor, you can still use the internet to learn more after receiving a reliable diagnosis from a professional.