How many Australians use Google to self-diagnose?

Have you ever used the Google to diagnose your health issues? You’re not alone.

InstantScripts commissioned an independent survey of 1001 Aussies to gauge what proportion of the population diagnose and treat their own health symptoms using online research.

Nearly a third (30 per cent) of respondents admitted they had used online research to diagnose a physical or mental health issue in the past. Scary? You bet.

InstantScripts medical director Dr Andrew Thompson says it is “concerning” that Australians have trouble accessing doctors and are turning to online information.

“It is important for Australians to be aware of the risks of self-diagnosing,” he says. “It’s understandable if an individual diagnoses a painful ankle as a sprain, for instance, but there are symptoms such as abdominal pain and heart pain that can’t be diagnosed without a medical test, and could be very serious. Ultimately, a misdiagnosis followed by incorrect medication could risk complications, worsen an existing health condition, and lead to side effects.”

“A delay in receiving the correct diagnosis from a medical professional can also worsen the condition, lead to more severe and possibly longer-term health problems, and in some cases, a fatality,” adds Dr Thompson. “A misdiagnosis can also place individuals and their families under unnecessary stress, along with financial costs. Patients may also invest time and finances into seeking unnecessary self-tests.”

Why are Aussies self-diagnosing?

The research showed:

• Women are more likely than men to self-diagnose
• Victorians have the highest level of self-diagnoses
• The main reason people self-diagnose is because people trust their instincts

Access to doctors was another reason Australians self-diagnose – 18 per cent of respondents had trouble accessing a doctor, and 12 per cent did not have a regular doctor they trust. One in five (21 per cent) did not want to visit a doctor during the pandemic. Some respondents have had poor experiences with medical professionals: 13 per cent said they self-diagnosed because they were unable to get a diagnosis for their illness, and 22 per cent said they had been misdiagnosed by a health professional in the past.

“It is concerning to discover that many Australians have had trouble accessing healthcare,” says Dr Thompson. “Patients in regional and rural areas, where GP wait lists are blown out due to a shortage of permanent doctors, may have challenges in finding a regular doctor. However, online information cannot be assumed to be relevant to an individual’s symptoms, neither does it take into account a patient’s family history, medical history and other factors that can impact a diagnosis.

“Unfortunately, another downside to self-diagnosing is the potential impact on the doctor-patient relationship. Patients can become fixated on certain symptoms or a particular diagnosis and may be unwilling to accept a professional, accurate diagnosis as a result.

“I urge individuals to always seek professional advice from a doctor or GP. Those who don’t have a regular doctor or struggle to access healthcare could seek telehealth services such as InstantScripts, which are available after hours and are affordable. Sourcing a regular doctor or making the conscious effort to seek regular health check-ups can help Australians better manage all aspects of their health and combat and manage potential illnesses early and effectively.”

For more information on the survey results, visit ‘Why Australians are self-diagnosing their symptoms‘.