Skip to main content

Customer Experience and Design

New & Improved Dr. Google? – Searching for Symptoms on Google

DrGoogle

Did you know that approximately 1% of all Google searches (think millions) are symptom-related? Google allows us to be self-sufficient, however, health content on the web can be very difficult to navigate and usually results in a misdiagnosis and more often than not a bout of anxiety because we tend to navigate to the “worst case” scenario diagnosis. To try and tackle this challenge Google has recruited medical professionals from Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, and other institutions to double-check sources for accuracy.

Furthermore, in the next few days, when you ask Google about symptoms you will be shown a list of related conditions and given a description along with information on self-treatment options and what might warrant a doctor’s visit. Google’s goal is to help people navigate and explore health conditions related to their symptoms and more quickly get to in-depth research or make a decision to contact their doctor.

While the use of Google to diagnose is a convenient option, it is important to remember information on Google is intended for informational purposes only, and you should always consult a doctor for medical advice. As a millennial I am curious to see this new and improved symptom search from Google – I can’t wait to see what I diagnose myself with next!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Kate Tuttle

Kate Tuttle is a senior marketing professional with more than 13 years of marketing experience in both B2B and B2C environments. She has more than 7 years of healthcare industry experience and is passionate about technology and its impact on consumer experience.

More from this Author

Follow Us
TwitterLinkedinFacebookYoutubeInstagram