Dr. Google and the New Digital Patient: Does Searching Health Information Online Help Us?
- Prof Cristina Elisa Orso
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Over the past two decades, the Internet has completely changed the way people access health information. Today, symptoms, treatments, medications, diets, prevention strategies, and even self-diagnosis tools are only a few clicks away. What once required a doctor’s appointment, a phone call, or a visit to the pharmacy can now be searched instantly on a smartphone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this transformation became even more evident. Millions of people turned to the web every day to look for information about symptoms, vaccines, infection risks, treatments, and healthcare services. The Internet became one of the main tools people used to understand what was happening around them and how to protect themselves and their families.
But does searching for health information online actually improve people’s health?
A recent study explored this question using data from more than 13,000 Europeans aged 50 and over across 18 countries (Di Novi et al., 2024). The results paint a much more nuanced picture than we might expect. On the one hand, online health information can empower individuals, increase awareness, and help people better understand medical conditions and prevention strategies. On the other hand, however, it can also increase anxiety, encourage more frequent healthcare use, and negatively affect the way people perceive their own health.
Researchers refer to this phenomenon as e-health information seeking behavior (e-HISB), meaning the habit of searching online for health-related information. This behavior has become increasingly common across Europe thanks to the widespread diffusion of smartphones, broadband Internet, and digital services. For many people, the advantages are obvious: online information is immediate, accessible at any time, and usually free of charge. Individuals can quickly search for symptoms, compare treatments, read medical advice, or learn more about chronic conditions without leaving home. For older adults, however, the situation is often more complex. Health problems tend to increase with age, which may motivate older individuals to seek more health-related information. At the same time, older generations may face greater difficulties navigating digital technologies or evaluating the reliability of online content. The Internet can therefore become both a useful source of empowerment and a source of confusion.
The pandemic intensified all of these dynamics. Lockdowns, social distancing measures, and fear of infection pushed many people, especially older adults, to rely much more heavily on digital information. But while access to online information increased, so did exposure to misinformation, contradictory recommendations, alarming news, and emotionally charged content.
The World Health Organization described this phenomenon as an “infodemic”: an overwhelming amount of information circulating online, including false or misleading content, making it difficult for individuals to distinguish reliable information from unreliable sources. During the pandemic, people were continuously exposed to infection statistics, mortality rates, scientific debates, breaking news, and discussions surrounding vaccines and treatments. For many individuals, navigating this constant stream of information became emotionally exhausting. This is one of the key points highlighted by the study: more information does not automatically lead to greater reassurance. In some cases, it may actually increase fear and uncertainty. Searching online for symptoms or diseases can make individuals more attentive to their health, but also more worried about possible illnesses. As a result, people may become more likely to seek medical consultations or healthcare services, even when online information itself contributes to generating anxiety.
The findings therefore reveal an important paradox of the digital age. The Internet has enormous potential to democratize access to health information and empower patients. Yet without adequate digital skills and health literacy, the same information can also fuel confusion, stress, and misinformation. In this new world of “Dr. Google,” the challenge is no longer simply accessing information, it is learning how to interpret, evaluate, and use information in a healthy and informed way.
The geography of digital health information in Europe
The study shows important geographical differences in online health information seeking across Europe. Figure 1 shows that Northern European countries display the highest shares of individuals searching online for health-related information, while lower levels are observed in several Southern and Eastern European countries. These differences reflect broader inequalities in digital infrastructure, broadband access, educational attainment, and health literacy.
More information, more anxiety?
One of the most interesting findings of the study is that people who search for health information online are also more likely to visit doctors or healthcare facilities. In other words, the Internet does not necessarily replace medical consultations; in many cases, it actually encourages people to seek more healthcare. At first, this might seem surprising. We often think of online information as something that reassures patients and helps them manage health problems more independently. And to some extent, this is true. Searching online can help people better understand symptoms, treatments, medications, or prevention strategies. It can increase awareness and encourage individuals to take better care of their health.
At the same time, however, the Internet can also become a source of anxiety. When people are exposed to large amounts of medical information, especially information that is contradictory, alarming, or difficult to interpret, they may become more worried about their symptoms and more fearful about possible illnesses. Reading about diseases online can sometimes amplify concerns rather than reduce them. This phenomenon became particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. For months, people were constantly exposed to infection numbers, mortality statistics, news updates, scientific debates, and discussions about vaccines and treatments. For many individuals, especially older adults, navigating this continuous flow of information was emotionally exhausting. The uncertainty surrounding the pandemic pushed many people to search online even more frequently for explanations, advice, and reassurance. According to the study, individuals who had direct experience with COVID-19, either personally or through relatives or close contacts, were significantly more likely to seek health information online.
The researchers describe this process as a sort of “chain reaction.” People search online for information about symptoms or diseases; this increases awareness, but also anxiety; anxiety then pushes individuals to seek more medical consultations; and this stronger focus on illness can eventually worsen the way people perceive their own health. Importantly, the study also shows that not everyone experiences online health information in the same way. Individuals with higher education, stronger digital skills, and better health literacy were much more likely to navigate online information effectively. They were generally better able to distinguish reliable information from misleading or sensationalistic content. By contrast, people with lower digital skills or lower health literacy often faced greater difficulties understanding medical terminology or evaluating the credibility of online sources.
The role of digital skills is particularly important. The study finds that individuals with good computer skills were substantially more likely to search for health information online. At the same time, older individuals and people living in rural areas were less likely to engage with digital health information. These findings suggest that digital inequalities may increasingly become health inequalities. As healthcare systems become more digitalized, simply providing access to information is not enough. People also need the skills to interpret information correctly and to avoid becoming overwhelmed by fear, misinformation, or confusion. The Internet has enormous potential to empower patients and improve health awareness. But in the digital age, access to information alone is not sufficient: what really matters is the ability to understand, evaluate, and use information in a healthy and informed way.
Why this matters for the future?
As healthcare systems become increasingly digitalized, understanding how people interact with online health information is becoming a major public health priority. The study ultimately reminds us that more information does not automatically mean better health outcomes. In the digital age, the real challenge is helping individuals transform information into understanding, confidence, and informed decisions.
References:
C. Di Novi, M. Kovacic, and C. E. Orso (2024). "Online Health Information Seeking Behavior, Healthcare Access, and Health Status During Exceptional Times", Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.02.032
