The Internet Physician
Is the Internet making you a “cyberchondriac”? Learn the pros and cons of online health information.
When Joseph Imperato’s son came home with a football injury, the concerned dad did what millions of parents do every day: he went online, hunting for some quick answers. He discovered that his son might be facing massive hemorrhaging and could even require major orthopedic surgery.
Like any parent, he was alarmed and frustrated. But Joseph Imperato is a Harvard-trained physician, with 20 years of experience as Lake Forest Hospital’s Radiation Oncology Director. Surprised?
“I’m a physician, and I still felt a great deal of anxiety at the different outcomes that were listed,” he says. “Like a lot of physicians, I do occasionally use a site like WebMD. But based just on the content that I saw, I would have trouble making a general determination about what was wrong.”
How accurate are online health sites?
Indeed, the primary challenge with using the Internet for health information is sorting out the facts and deciding who to trust. It’s one thing to read the news, do your shopping, or even make serious financial decisions based on web content. But your health is another thing, and anxiety runs high.
A recent study conducted at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center found that, among cancer-related sites offered up by typical search engine phrases, 18 sites had a total of 41 inaccurate statements about the disease. While that might sound alarming, the particular sites studied had a relatively low error rate — just 5.2 percent.
“Medical information is not much different than anything else on the Internet. There’s a wide range in the quality of the information. It can be hard to distinguish between the good and the bad,” says Dr. Imperato. “In addition, many sites have a particular agenda that might impact the quality of the information.”
In other words, reliable, trustworthy information on the Internet does exist, but it requires that patients use common sense, objectivity and guidelines.
Tell me what I want to hear
Dr. Imperato points out that the value of online health sites is reduced by our natural desire to lean toward information that conforms to our own fears and opinions.
“If you’re looking for a particular diagnosis or treatment, there will be something on the web that will validate what you’re hoping to find,” he says.
Dr. Imperato, who frequently gives public talks on navigating cancer myths and information, has found that this is particularly true when it comes to chronic conditions or diseases.
“Cancer isn’t the biggest killer in this country — heart disease is. But cancer terrifies people and makes them a bit obsessive,” he says. “Most people aren’t going online to look up heart disease prevention.”
In a worst-case scenario, Dr. Imperato has treated patients who resist following his chemotherapy recommendations due to their own online research.
“They’ll come in and say, ‘I went online and I think the risks are too great. Besides, I feel good,’” he says. “These patients might have found information that validates how they want to manage their disease. Or, they used a site that happened to downplay the advantages of chemotherapy.”
From self-diagnosis to self-treatment
While social networking sites like Facebook, or even basic forums and chat rooms, can give patients emotional support and insights, they might also be a source of misinformation. Health diagnoses and treatments are often posted and shared by people with no medical training.
Patients relying heavily on health sites are also more likely to take treatment into their own hands.
“With cancer, people want to try a million different things for prevention — like massive supplements — and there are sites promoting solutions that cater to their fears and concerns,” says Dr. Imperato. “Most of the time, the extra things that patients do or buy won’t hurt them. But there are some wacky products out there that can interfere with treatment.”
The Smart Way to Use Online Health Sites
With so many challenges inherent in online health research, is there any benefit?
Dr. Imperato: “Absolutely. Patients should use the Internet to educate themselves and prepare a list of questions for their doctor — just be careful not to take what you read as gospel.”
He recommends using independent, medically reviewed sites like those associated with government agencies or non-profit medical organizations. But regardless of who sponsors the site, keep in mind that by nature the information is generic.
“For example, breast cancer is broken down into stages. But within those stages are sub-stages. On some sites, a rare side effect or condition might not even be mentioned,” he says. “Sites like WebMD do a decent job partly because they don’t try to delve into this kind of detail.”
He advises keeping the Internet’s generalities and broad scope in perspective. And when you need to discuss specific concerns, symptoms and treatment protocols, it’s time to turn off the computer and call your physician.
“I can’t tell you how many patients and personal friends I’ve had to talk off a ledge because of something they found online,” says Dr. Imperato. “But people are more familiar with the Internet now. I don’t have people coming in with reams of printouts that challenge diagnoses. But they are asking more questions, and that’s good.”
Using Online Health Information Wisely
- Who sponsors the site and what is its purpose? A non-profit or government entity is less likely to have an agenda or bias, though many commercial sites have valuable information.
- Does the site list independent advisory board members or content reviewers?
- Is the site updated frequently? Health information changes rapidly.
- Is the information factual? Opinions should be stated as such.
- Healthfinder® from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Medical Library Association’s “Top Ten” list can point you to credible health information websites.
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