Dr Google in the ED: Searching for online health information by adult emergency department patients
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, predictors, and characteristics of health-related internet searches by adult emergency department (ED) patients; to examine the effect of searching on the doctor-patient relationship and treatment compliance. DESIGN: A multi-centre, observational, cross-sectional study; a purpose-designed 51-item survey, including tools for assessing e-health literacy (eHEALS) and the effects of internet searching on the doctor-patient relationship (ISMII). Setting, participants: 400 adult patients presenting to two large tertiary referral centre emergency departments in Melbourne, February-May 2017. OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive statistics for searching prevalence and characteristics, doctor-patient interaction, and treatment compliance; predictors of searching; effect of searching on doctor-patient interaction. RESULTS: 400 of 1056 patients screened for eligibility were enrolled; their mean age was 47.1 years (SD, 21.1 years); 51.8% were men. 196 (49.0%) regularly searched the internet for health information; 139 (34.8%) had searched regarding their current problem before presenting to the ED. The mean ISMII score was 30.3 (95% CI, 29.6-31.0); searching improved the doctor-patient interaction for 150 respondents (77.3%). Younger age (per 10-year higher age band: odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.91) and greater e-health literacy (per one-point eHEALS increase: OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06-1.17) predicted searching the current problem prior to presentation; e-health literacy predicted ISMII score (estimate, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20-0.39). Most patients would never or rarely doubt their diagnosis (79%) or change their treatment plan (91%) because of conflicting online information. CONCLUSION: Online health care information was frequently sought before presenting to an ED, especially by younger and e-health literate patients. Searching had a positive impact on the doctor-patient interaction and was unlikely to reduce adherence to treatment.
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The anecdotal use of internet searches for medical information, commonly referred to as "Dr Google", has been reported to facilitate the clinical encounter between the patient and the physician without impacting adherence to treatment.
“The anecdotal use of internet searches for medical information, commonly referred to as “Dr Google” has been reported to facilitate the clinical encounter between the patient and the physician [124,125] without impacting adherence to treatment [126].”
From Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the Internet of Things: A Scoping Review (2024) · cites this paper as [126]
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References 14 · Cited by 114
- Authors
- Cocco, A. M., Zordan, R., Taylor, D. M., Weiland, T. J., Dilley, S. J., Kant, J., Dombagolla, M., Hendarto, A., Lai, F., & Hutton, J.
- Affiliations
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Austin Health (AU)
- St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne (AU)
- Goulburn Valley Health (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Cocco, Anthony M
- Venue
- Medical Journal of Australia
- Publisher
- AMPCo
- Published
- 2018-08-20
- Volume
- 209
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 342-347
- ISSN
- 0025-729X (ISSN-L)
- 1326-5377
- OpenAlex
- W2885930758
- Cited by
- 114
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 16.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- The Medical Journal of Australia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information Retrieval and Search Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Keywords
- online health information seeking, emergency department patients, digital health literacy, physician-patient relationship, medication adherence
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Emergency Service, Hospital, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Compliance, Physician-Patient Relations, Internet, Health Literacy, Search Engine
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