Cyberquacks and Cyberchondriacs

http://earthoughts.tumblr.com/post/4084780402/drugs-are-not-always-necessary-belief-in

Every day, we are bombarded by information that claims to help us lose weight, improve health, and gain vitality; now, more markedly and prolifically than ever, via the Internet (Wyatt et all, 2008).

Which has given rise to behaviours Lewis (2006) has dubbed “cyberchondria” and “cyberquackery”.  This begs the question; is the internet a good source of health information? How does access to health information online affect the medical industry’s practices?

A huge proportion of all chronic illnesses requiring hospitalisation are preventable, had the patient had access to health information and early intervention by a General Practicioner, according to  Dr John Kastrissios, from General Practice Queensland (2010).

While there is always a degree of bias present in the health information process (Wyatt et al, 2008), if access to this information engages patients and encourages them to consult their GP regularly, and this in turn helps them in establishing healthy dialogues with their doctors and the people they come into contact with outside of the health system, this can only be a positive step forward in improving the health of our society.

However, the scope of the Internet means that differentiating between reliable information and “cyberquackery” (Lewis, 2006) amongst the mass of complicated, often contradictory information isn’t always easy. The Internet can be a helpful tool when it comes to managing our health, as long as its information is consumed within a social context, and with the help and advice of a trained medical professional.

References

Kastrissios, John. 2010. "Preventative Health Strategy puts general practice at the forefront: Call for the doctor." Accessed April 8, 2011. http://www.gpqld.com.au/content/Document/Media/Media%20Releases/MEDIA%20RELEASE%20070909_the%20strategy.pdf

Lewis, T. (2006). Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria? Media, Culture & Society, volume 28, issue 4: 521-539. 

Wyatt, S., Harris, R. and Wathen, N. (2008). The Go-Betweens: Health, Technology and Info(r)mediation. In Mediating Health Information: The Go-Betweens in a Changing Socio-Technical Landscape. Sally Wyatt, Nadine Wathen and Roma Harris (eds), pp. 1-12. New York: Palgrave Macmillan