How good is Internet self-diagnosis of ENT symptoms using Boots WebMD symptom checker?

摘要

Patients are increasingly using the Internet to source health information. A study of Internet use amongst outpatients with otolaryngological disorders found that 12% had searched the Internet for information prior to their consultation. Patients also consult the Internet to self-diagnose. Nine per cent of patients attending a genitourinary medicine clinic used the Internet to make a self-diagnosis, and 70% were correct. There have been no published studies examining the accuracy of specific self-diagnosis sites. The Independent newspaper has endorsed WebMD and its 'smart symptom checker' as a medical site 'to trust'.