Those working in the medical field train extensively to identify problems and run diagnostics relevant to each and every individual patient that comes through their doors. With a global pandemic throwing many healthcare systems into disarray, people have turned to the internet for answers.
We’ve all likely been in a situation where we’ve searched our own symptoms online to get a glimpse at what may be bothering us. However, ad-hungry websites and misinformation oftentimes send patients in the wrong direction. In this article, we’ll discuss two patient-centric case studies as they relate to online medical misinformation.
Case Studies
Let’s dive in with our first example.
During the Delta wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a patient based in India followed internet-based remedies rather than seeking out, and relying on, professional help. This decision proved fatal for the man. He left behind a wife and 7-year old daughter as he succumbed to his symptoms. As per recommendations, the patient was isolating when he was found unconscious with 40% Lu.ng_Q.p.a.cj.ty. For scale, healthy lungs generally shouldn’t show any opacities during a scan.
After years of ongoing pandemic reports, this example is sadly an all-too-common one.
Let’s take a look at a second example.
If you were to search online for ’causes of heartburn’ you would receive an extensive list of potential symptoms ranging from ‘too many spicy foods’ to ‘cancer.’ In this example, one particular patient did just that.
This patient utilized online searches to confirm why she was experiencing heartburn and a reduced appetite. She conducted her own research prior to seeing a doctor and ultimately requested her physician to run unnecessary diagnostic tests. Such tests ran up a grand total of nearly 20,000 Indian Rupees. The results? She was prescribed a low dose of a histamine-2 blocker that would reduce the acid that the stomach produces. She took this medication for less than a week before experiencing a reduction in heartburn.
Running Diagnostics
What do these two examples have in common? Both patients used the internet to self-diagnose or self-treat. Relying on internet-based treatment paths is not only risky but as indicated in example #1, can be a fatal choice. Beyond a simple symptom list, healthcare providers use their years of intensive schooling to determine a diagnosis and path toward healing.
Arriving at a doctor’s appointment armed with general knowledge of symptoms and your own personal health history is generally a safe bet. Supplementing the conversation in question with information gleaned online is entirely different than taking online medical advice at face value.
So why is so much of the medical information available online often unreliable? Filtering through legitimate websites is a concern. Many common health-related websites collect ad revenue. With an almost insurmountable amount of data published online, the ability to fact-check every published piece is impossible. With many health and wellness-related websites designed to monetize online traffic, the focus is put more on advertising than on fact-checked medical information. The goal is to get patients to click through various advertised pathways, rather than clicking through to legitimate information overseen by medical professionals.
Advertised Advice
Another key problem could be attributed to clickbait information or information located behind paywalls. There’s no recourse to the sharing of irresponsible health-related information.
At times, you’ll find scientific information published behind a paywall. In addition to that, what is the reason for incorporating paid advertisements in order for an individual to gain access to legitimate information? In overly simplified terms: advertising revenue.
Clickbait is built to attract users to a particular site or article. When millions of individuals go to search for something as simple as a flu remedy, they will be bombarded with endless options and title-grabbing headlines. Plenty of articles and information online contain headlines touting miracle cures and misleading medical claims. With almost endless amounts of information published online, it’s difficult to sift through what information has been verified and what is incorrect. Clickbait headlines aim to draw a reader in – once the reader has been directed to the article, the content can come across with vaguely familiar verbiage or claims. Thus making it hard to differentiate whether or not an article is legitimate.
This is cause for concern. As in the fatal example above, any patient can pin their hopes on a quick cure or claim to healing found online.
Misinformation Malady
Vaccine misinformation is unfortunately all-too-relevant in this space as well. Truly nothing can top clinical experience, yet medical websites still exist that lead patients toward diagnosing and treating medical conditions. This provides a dangerous scope through which people garner their information.
Vaccines are scientifically proven effective tools against fighting disease. Yet, the public’s trust in vaccines has been skewed. Common misconceptions abound as to the efficacy of vaccines. The more misinformation gets shared, the more the public will come to distrust lifesaving medicines and procedures.
Vaccine misinformation can largely be attributed to word of mouth, social media, traditional media, and online information. Not understanding a complex topic when it comes to health can be scary. This is why following the advice of clinically trained doctors is the best course of action.
Tapping into and weeding out misconceptions in order to validate concerns may be one simple step to take to halt such misinformation. Yet, combatting something as nuanced as vaccine misinformation will take a village of like-minded community members. Certain steps can be taken to slow the spread of misinformation. It’s a good idea to refrain from sharing information that may not be from a trusted source or one that has click-bait elements.
In general, accurate information is not meant to instill fear or be sensationalized. Weeding out misleading claims can take some work, but if we can amplify trusted sources and trained physicians, accurate information will be spread faster.