I thought list members may be interested in the results of this
survey...a bit scary that 86 percent of people believe the health
information they find from Google is accurate!
Times newspaper, June 06, 2005
More people consult Google over health
BY NIGEL HAWKES, HEALTH EDITOR
GOOGLE, the internet search engine, has now become one of the patient's
best friends, second only to the family doctor.
A survey of 1,000 people found that 12 per cent turn first to Google.
Fewer consult family and friends, the media or medical encyclopaedias
when faced with a medical problem.
The internet is consulted by 21 per cent as the first port of call. Some
use search engines other than Google and some log on directly to other
websites.
Although more - 52 per cent - would see a GP first, the survey shows how
important the internet is in informing patients. Friends and family, a
traditional source of guidance, were cited by 10 per cent.
Most Googlers believe that the information they find is accurate. While
94 per cent trust their GP, nearly as many (86 per cent) believe that
what they find from a Google search is accurate.
The survey was carried out by ICM Healthcare for Core-Create, a design
company that specialises in visual communications for healthcare
clients.
Although the Department of Health has tried to create a new breed of
"expert patients", 60 per cent of GPs said that self-diagnosis wasted
their time - either by slowing down consultations or because patients
convince themselves that they have a condition that they do not have.
Caroline Miller BA (Hons) MA MCLIP
Information Specialist
Clinical and Public Health Directorate
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7067 5865
Fax:+44 (0)20 7067 5801
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Website: www.nice.org.uk
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