admin
MELBOURNE. — Sick Australians are increasingly ignoring their doctors and relying on invalidated health information from online forums, Melbourne researchers said yesterday.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne found there were thousands of online health communities (OHCs) where unqualified people shared health experiences and offered medical advice with those who may have experienced the same condition.
After examining 600 postings from 12 different medical conditions including cancers and chronic diseases, and interviewing more than a dozen users, researcher Dr Reeva Lederman said OHC users’ attempts to empower themselves with information had the effect of sidelining doctors and health professionals.
“Medical consumers are not just using the online community as an adjunct to conventional medical care, but many have moved their regular doctor out the equation altogether,” Lederman said in a press release on Friday.
“Testimonies on online health communities — like ‘Patients Like Me’ — show patients using this site have a diverse range of conditions of varying severity, but none of them use the word ‘doctor’ in talking about who helped them solve their medical problems.”
Lederman warned advice from qualified medical professionals was lacking in most online forums, and this could lead to dangerous outcomes. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter