Introduction
The Internet is a source of valuable medical information, however the Web has the
potential to increase anxieties of people with no medical training when employed as
a diagnostic procedure (White & Horvitz, 2009). Anxiety induced as a result of health
related search online is an increasingly differentiated activity ( Fox et al., 2000;
Feldman, 2000; Lewis, 2006; Belling, 2006; Ravdin, 2008; White & Horvitz, 2009) and
known in the field of cyberpsychology as cyberchondria. This literature review aims
to review research studies that have investigated medical information seeking online
in the general population.
Methods
Research journals from 2000-2011 were selected and studied to identify consistent
and contrasting views. Themes identified were as follows; impact of technology on
health related information seeking; the role of symptom search concerning self-diagnostics
online; knowledge empowered challenges to medical opinion; threats to traditional
the doctor-patient relationships; consideration of the 'worried well', health anxiety,
hypochondria, cyberchondria and online escalation; DSM-V task force recommendations
regarding revisions to somatoform disorder classification; exploration of virtual
factitious disorders; anonymity, self-disclosure, disinhibition, altruism and reassurance/support
considered in the context of medical chat room forums online, these themes will be
discussed in this literature review.
Results
Literature review indicates that health-related search technology impacts how information
is disseminated, and can cause unnecessary anxiety (White & Horvitz, 2009). Knowledge,
empowerment (Bastian, 2003), support, reassurance (Sillence & Briggs, 2007) and altruism
(Adar & Huberman, 2000) may be positive aspects regarding medical search online, however
the literature (Belling, 2006; Lewis, 2006; Ravdin, 2008; White & Horvitz, 2009 )
indicates that anxiety is likely to be a consequence of same, additionally emergence
of the 'Google stack' in the consultation process is impacting on traditional doctor
patient relationships ( Belling, 2006; Lewis, 2006).
Conclusions
These findings are relevant for healthcare professionals, particularly regarding patient
care and management, the Internet's capacity as an omnipresent delivery mechanism
for medical search, coupled with known propensity to escalate online, makes a strong
case for further study of this subject.