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Poll: 160 million "cyberchondriacs" looking up health info online
Once upon a time, giving someone a copy of the DSM was almost guaranteed to ensure that they would come down with the plague. Or at least they'd convince themselves that they had malaria. These days anyone with an internet connection can take advantage of self-diagnosis tools at sites like WebMD to scare themselves silly. And according to a new poll by Harris Interactive, over 160 million Americans, or 84% of all online adults can be called "cyberchondriacs."
That word's not entirely fair or accurate, with its implication that most Americans are hypochondriacs. In order to qualify, you just have to have searched for some form of health-related information at some point in your life. But it is interesting that the number is up 37% from just two years ago.
A few other juicy stats:
- 74% of those who say they've looked up health information have done so in the last month. That number is actually down from 85% in 2005.
- 88% of those who conduct health-related searches say that they're successful.
- 26% say the health information they get online is "very reliable," while 60% describe it as "somewhat reliable."
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsOptimizedAug 6th 2007 9:38AM
you can also see a doctor online at www.myeclinic.com so this can go full circle
ThwartedEffortsAug 2nd 2007 8:37AM
A copy of the DSM? What's a DSM? Downing Street memo? Distinguished Service Medal?
Brad LinderAug 2nd 2007 8:38AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders
Ja(ce)sonAug 2nd 2007 3:09PM
"..sites like WebMD to scare themselves silly."
Exactly why I stopped going there! HA!
JamesAug 7th 2007 11:35AM
Man, I am *really* sick of being talked down to by "medical professionals" -- yes, you went through 15 years of school or whatever, I'm sure you're very, very smart, but I think I can figure out for myself if I have a frickin' cold or not. People can fix their own homes, they can fix their own cars, but when they want to fix something minor that's wrong with themselves, everybody throws their hands up and runs to the doctor. I'm not saying you should try to give yourself stitches or set your own broken bones, but in the analogy above, it's like you can't even change your own oil.
I don't mean to rant, but the lengths our society is going to to stigmatize people who fend for themselves are really starting to piss me off.