Doctor Google: The Use of Internet in Self-Diagnosis Cover Image

Google doktor. Internethasználat az öndiagnosztizálásban és öngyógyításban
Doctor Google: The Use of Internet in Self-Diagnosis

Author(s): Tímea Krizbai
Subject(s): Communication studies
Published by: Korunk Baráti Társaság
Keywords: Google; self-diagnosis; Internet; health system; healing

Summary/Abstract: The goal of the present study was to analyze in what percentage young and middle-age people use the Internet instead of seeing a doctor for diagnosis, and how they use the World Wide Web information for self-healing. 80 young people (age 18-24), 80 adults (age 25-34), and 80 middle-aged and older adults (age 35-60) participated to the study. The questionnaire contained questions regarding demographic patterns, Internet usage habits, and Internet self-diagnosis and self-healing. Young peopleuse the Internet significantly more often than young and older adults. 23,8% of the respondents research their health problems on the web before seeking medical attention. Young people choose the Internet diagnosis instead of seeing a doctor because they can save time, and it is less stressful. The adult age groups prefer to be well informed before going to the doctor, and therefore they opt for the web. The modern manturns to the internet to solve health problems in almost all cases, before turning to a doctor. The question is whether we should reorganize the health systems in these circumstances.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 08
  • Page Range: 60-67
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Hungarian