Why unguided online research is not the future for digital patient education
The up- and downsides of asking Dr. Google
If you are reading this blog post, you are probably part of them: Nowadays, a vast majority look up symptoms and health questions online.
Of all Google searches, already 7% are health-related, according to Head of Google Health David Feinberg. A US-American survey found that 72% of adult internet users have searched online for health related information.
In Germany, every second person is googling their symptoms to be prepared before seeing a doctor according to a representative 2020 Bitkom survey. Furthermore, 62% already arrive with a diagnosis they looked up online at the doctor. And even after seeing a doctor, 61% of German patients seek the internet for more information.
The reasons for patient self-education are various: Looking for a second opinion, alternative treatment options or for more information on diagnosis and treatment in general. The seeking for more and additional information independent from a healthcare professional is an important step towards a more emancipated and empowered patient. But it seems that not only is the information provided by a doctor not sufficient, it also comes with barriers. Almost every third patient states that they did not understand the elucidations of the doctor and 20% had problems remembering all the details.
Patients want and need more information on their personal health. But internet-based self-education comes not only with advantages but also with problems that should not be underestimated.
First, let us take a look at the upsides.
- Knowledge is power.
42% of German physicians believe that patients are becoming more empowered through the online research of health information according to the Bitkom study. Fully informed patients are more aware of their treatment options and are more engaged and eager in the process. - Communication on equal terms can flourish.
The conversation between physician and patient becomes more equal which is mutually beneficial. A patient who did research prior to the doctor’s visit can ask the right questions. The doctor does not have to repeat the same monologue to every patient, but can focus on the specialities of the specific patient. Almost every second physician (48%) even learns from well-informed patients from time to time. - Patients can connect as a group.
The internet allows patients to connect across continents. Forums and help pages for patients with rare diseases or for parents of chronically ill children are only two examples of the vast emotional support the online community can offer. By informing each other about updates on treatment options, therapeutic appliances, funding or clinical trials, the network ensures a distribution of knowledge.
These benefits are remarkable, but they are unfortunately opposed by considerable dangers that online research for health information brings with it.
- The internet is full of misleading and false information.
The biggest problem with searching for health information online is its sheer volume. A search engine (prejudiced by our previous searches) tries to filter out the right information for us from a huge amount of data. In addition, not only is there an infinite amount of information, but its quality also varies greatly and is almost impossible for most laypeople to judge. This is also noted by more than one in two physicians (56%), who attest to a lack of digital competence among their patients. Therefore, overall the odds of finding misleading information are very high. Governmental websites are trying to mitigate these risks by providing guidelines on how to search the internet for health issues. - Online research can increase fear.
This is closely related to aforementioned point. Researching health information of our own health or of a close relative is an emotional rather than an objective process. 90% of physicians stated in the Bitkom survey that patients were irritated by their internet research. Especially for patients who are already worried, the confirmation bias ensures that they are more likely to find information on the internet that increases their anxiety. - The patient-physician relationship will change not to everyone’s liking.
In 1961, 88% of US physicians had a habit of not telling their patients they had a cancer diagnosis. This is fortunately not the case today anymore, but patient and physician are still in an unequal relationship. 67% of German doctors perceive dealing with patients, who informed themselves online as exhausting. On the other hand, many patients do not even dare to discuss their findings with their physician, as they don’t want to be perceived as challenging their doctor, although studies have found this discussion leading to higher patient satisfaction.
With all the options the modern, digitalised world provides, it is unlikely that the online search for health questions will decrease.
Instead, more and more platforms and applications arise that aim to inform and support the patients on their healthcare issues. The medium and the desire to know is not the problem, but the information itself and the access to it. Even if patients had all information available — which is unlikely, as the newest findings in medicine require expensive access to journal articles — they still need a translation of this information into graspable knowledge. As Dr. Eric Topol, cardiologist and author, put it in his book “The patient will see you now”:
“Although we can close the information gap, the knowledge gap is much harder.”
Of course, the goal should be educate patients to be better able to distinct true from false information, but it should not be necessary for every patient to complete a medical degree. Translators are still needed to form, revise and interpret information for patients. The most important translators are and will be the healthcare professionals. And digital health information can help the physicians to fulfil their translator job in an effective way.
Ariane Schenk, expert at bitkom for e-health, summarises quite accurately:
“Digital health information provides transparency and makes patients more confident in dealing with medical issues. They are an excellent complement to a visit to the doctor.”
An online research will not replace a visit to the doctor in anytime soon, but it can help to emancipate the patient to use the limited time with the doctor more efficiently.
We at medudoc believe in the power of well curated, digital patient information. With our platform, HCPs can compile educational videos tailored to the needs of an individual patient. Find more about us on www.medudoc.com. Also, if you are interested in digital patient education, check out the 5 qualities of a modern patient education process my colleague Mona Ciotta identified.
About the author
Inken Lohmann is working as UX expert at the Berlin-based digital health start-up medudoc. With a background in business psychology and human factors, she gathers insights from patients and doctors to shape a new, digital experience of patient education.
You can contact her via email or LinkedIn.
Thanks to Mona Ciotta for her valuable feedback and support
Sources:
Topol, E. J. (2015). The patient will see you now: The future of medicine is in your hands.
