A large number of Internet users these days avoid a visit to doctors instead get tips online based on the symptoms and reviews. To be fair, some of these tips are from doctors or reputed medical associations, approved by governments. The advice granted by the government health associations like in the US and UK are referred because of the confidence in the healthcare systems there. It is not that there are absolutely no advantages involved and that all information is misleading, but the point is what’s gone wrong inside our body cannot be judged based on symptoms from similar experiences shared online by others. According to study, most people use Google searches for medical advice, and only less than 45 per cent get accurate information. As mentioned earlier, official websites offer more reliable than blogs by individuals or companies.
According to a report, online visitors should use common sense and double check all the facts before implementing it. They should avoid generalising on symptoms, self-diagnosis and medication and falling victim to marketing frauds.
“These days average middle-aged patients do not get surprised if we mention about the possibility of any illness to them. Most of them have done online researches based on the symptoms and the possible causes,” said Dr Jayachandran, a general practitioner based in Oman.
“To a large extent my patients restrict themselves to searching for symptoms and taking some assurances from those results. I have not seen anyone resorting to self- medication or getting medicines online or through teleshopping. But there are always these vulnerable groups, who can be targeted by online marketing firms.” Online searches are a good source of information and there is nothing wrong if someone tries to understand a particular disease or illness. It may effectively work for some digestive, fever or headaches.
“I always search online to know about symptoms and some home remedies especially for children, but never go try to go beyond that,” Amna al Balushi, a mother of two who does most transactions online.
Amna added that she has seen her friends frequently resorting to online searches for each and every pain, digestion difficulties. According to medical experts, the problem is lot of websites with commercial interests are sponsored by companies selling medicines and lesser-known medical practitioners. They either give incomplete information or tweak the tips to suit their businesses.
Vinod Nair
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