Today, as has been the case for several years, the typical patient journey begins online. Fortunately, however, the unflattering term “Doctor Google”—patients doing their own “diagnostic research” online—is a less popular label these days. It could be that Internet users are growing smarter.
A Google search is not the same as a medical degree. Sophisticated users know that finding symptom information is not a good opportunity to self-diagnose and/or avoid seeing a professional. Nevertheless, eight in 10 online health inquiries start with an online search (Google, Bing, Yahoo), the Pew Research Center says.
