Irish ‘cyberchondriacs’ turn to ‘Dr Google’

MORE than 60% of women and 50% of men under 44 are consulting “Dr Google” due to the expense of a GP visit, a survey has found.

Irish people are suffering from “cyberchondria”, with almost half of the 1,000 people saying the cost of attending their GP encourages them to consult the internet for a medical diagnosis.

The study was carried out by Quinn Healthcare, but Dr David Ward, who works for the company’s 24-hour GP helpline, warned that while the internet is a significant source of information, it should be treated with caution and used in conjunction with advice from a trained medical professional.