Dr. Google Will See You Now: Are We Improving Patient Education or Miseducating the Masses?
In a panel discussion held on June 18, 2024, at HLTH Europe in Amsterdam, experts discussed how the internet has fundamentally changed how people access health information and engage with their own health. A recent panel discussion at a health conference explored this shift and its implications. The panellists, representing companies like Google, Ada Health, and Flo Health, discussed how the internet empowers patients and enables the spread of misinformation. They highlighted the need for trustworthy online health resources and partnerships between tech companies, health organisations, and clinicians to improve health literacy and outcomes.
Patients Turn to “Dr. Google” First
Whereas patients used to rely primarily on doctors for health information, now they often turn to the internet first when experiencing symptoms or health concerns. “40% said, I will go to the internet first. And least likely, the least likely option was I go to my doctor,” said Claudia Pastides of Flo Health, referring to a recent survey of the company’s app users. Nearly half of the women surveyed said they learned about common gynaecological conditions online rather than from doctors.
This shift puts more health information at patients’ fingertips than ever before. “I think it’s brilliant because it allows individuals to take control,” said Susan Thomas from Google. She sees it as an opportunity to empower patients with knowledge so that “they come down to a clinic, and they have printed out what they found on Google.”
However, the sheer volume of online health content of varying quality and credibility presents challenges. “I agree with you. I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Pastides said. The downside is there’s a lot of misinformation — there’s a lot of deliberate misinformation and disinformation as well.”
Confronting Health Misinformation Online
Panelists agreed that health misinformation spreading online, especially on social media, is a major concern. Despite the increasing availability of health information, “health literacy is going down significantly,” noted Sandra Dittrich. In Germany, surveys found 58% of the population had poor health literacy in 2020, an increase from 2014. Younger people struggle, too, not just older adults.
“I really love social media because it’s a really good way to talk to a certain target group,” Dittrich said. “But on the other hand, like all the algorithms behind it, I mean, they’re all based on what clicks well; they’re not based on what is correct.” It’s easy for people to enter “echo chambers” reinforcing what they already believe.
One alarming example Pastides shared was the spread on TikTok of “gelatin cocktails” purporting to stop menstrual periods, even dissolving high doses of ibuprofen that could be dangerous for some people. “It really has the risk,” she said. “And who’s responsible? Like, who’s responsible for that?”
Tech companies invest heavily in elevating credible health sources and implementing policies to identify and remove egregious health misinformation. “Our ethos brief on search on YouTube is about being responsible and making sure that people can get the information they need when they need it,” Thomas explained. Google’s YouTube Health platform only includes videos from sources vetted by health authorities in its top results. They’ve also tweaked algorithms to avoid recommending videos about self-harm.
However, panellists emphasised that improving health literacy and combating misinformation require collaboration between clinicians, health organizations, tech companies, educators, and policymakers. “We can’t do this without a partnership, right?” Thomas said. We have a platform where other people are putting their information, and we’re not creating the information. We’re partnering with the NHS, with the WHO, or with the individual creators.”
The Future of Digital Health Platforms
The panellists envisioned digital health tools becoming increasingly personalised, predictive, and seamlessly integrated into people’s lives.
Daniel Nathrath, CEO of Ada Health, predicted a future “personal operating system for health” that integrates data from symptoms, wearables, lab results and even genomic sequencing to detect potential issues early. “I think we should all have more of a perspective of, okay, everyone, most people here know who am I building something to make people’s health people’s lives better?” Nathrath said. “And I think if we have a spirit of collaboration, we can eventually sort of realise this vision where you can, you know, live a much healthier life and detect things before they get bad and manage your entire health from your smartphone.”
However, Pastides emphasised the importance of bringing clinicians along in the process and familiarising them with emerging digital health tools so that they welcome patients using these apps and devices. The panellists agreed that the ultimate measure of success for online health platforms and resources is improving patient outcomes. As Nathrath put it: “I think excellence is ultimately measured by outcomes. I think that’s the most important thing.”
Dittrich summed up three key principles: “Be good, be transparent, and partner.” She urged digital health companies to prioritise quality content, clearly label early research that isn’t definitive, and collaborate with other stakeholders. “It always takes a village so partner up with other people,” she said. “We all need to work together.”
The internet’s transformation of how people learn about and engage with health information is still in its early stages. However by building partnerships, prioritising credible content, and keeping patients’ needs at the centre, there is tremendous potential to use digital platforms to increase health literacy and support better health outcomes at a massive scale. As Thomas said, “We believe inflammation is a determinant of health and that everybody across the world has the right to accurate and useful, high-quality information when they need it.”
