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.

The emerging trend is more prevalent in woman than men, with 62% of the woman surveyed under 44 saying they would go online when concerned about a medical problem.

And if the ailment is an embarrassing one, the chance of seeking internet advice also rises to above 50% for both men and women of all ages.

The nationwide survey found that:

n46% use the internet for diagnosis instead of GP.

n45% would use a phone service or web chat for consultations if their GP offered it.

n53% of females aged between 35-44 use the internet for a second opinion and as a tool to challenge GP diagnosis.

nMore than 55% of younger males, and 54% of women between 35-44 would consult the internet rather than their GP if suffering from an embarrassing medical problem.

However, when it comes to trusting the information, the figures dropped, with just 35% stating they feel the internet is a trustworthy source of medical information, with young men being the biggest believers at 48%.

Dr Ward said in financially challenging times people need to make their money stretch further, even when it comes to their health.

He said other forms of communication technology are also having an impact on the healthcare sector, including text message (SMS) alerts from chemists when prescriptions are ready, and virtual doctor visits via Skype.

“Both are emerging trends in the US and the UK,” Dr Ward said.

“I could certainly see this trend catching on, in particular in rural Ireland and more generally if we are in for another winter of extremely cold weather.”