Summary:
“During study, it was found that 60% government and 65% private doctors use internet while making diagnosis,” said study team member Piyush Biloniya. INDORE: ‘Self-diagnosing’ using the internet by comparing their symptoms instead of consulting a doctor is taking a toll on health of patients, revealed a study conducted by students of community medicine department of MGM Medical College.The study sample included 240 people — 100 OPD patients, 100 citizens, 20 private doctors and 20 government doctors.The study claimed 80% people have followed wrong treatment due to which their condition deteriorated. Researchers said that people mostly go for self-diagnosis in skin related problems resulting in complications.Pranjal Gupta, one of research team members, said, “In recent years, several new kinds of online software called symptom checkers have come up to self-diagnose symptoms and to get advice for treatment.”She added, “These software ask users to list their symptoms, using methods such as multiple-choice checklists and free text entry and later tell a list of potential illnesses that might cause the listed symptoms and suggests treatment.”Rahul Sourastriya, another member, said, “During the study, it was found that 75% of general population and 72% of patients have searched symptoms on internet and later reached doctors, while around 39% population and 40% patients have reached doctor with complications arising due to self-treatment.”He added, “During study, doctors claimed that most patients have started believing in the internet due to which after they are prescribed medicines, patients verify it on the web and sometimes take other medicines.”It was observed that some doctors have also started using internet to support their treatment and prescription..