Clinicians may not always like it when patients Google their symptoms, but that hasn’t stopped them from doing it. According to Google, 1 in 20 google searches are for health-related information. The volume is so high that Google’s Knowledge Graph now displays information for more than 900 conditions. Dave deBronkart, a widely known blogger and cancer patient, say Googling is a good thing. In his opinion, a patients who Google are engaged e-patients who can have informed discussions with their clinicians. On the other hand, there are physicians like Tanya Feke, who think Dr. Google should be sued for malpractice. No matter which side of the debate you’re on, the fact is clear. People turn to Google when they have questions about their health. As the year comes to an end, Google complied a list of the top 10 Googled symptoms for it’s 2015 Year in Search piece. It’s no big surprise that “flu” topped the list, considering between 5% and 20% of U.S. residents get the flu each year. Check out the other top searches that made the list in our graphic below Did any surprise you? Tell us in the comments.
About Ben Amirault
Ben Amirault was formerly the marketing manager at Barton Associates' Peabody, MA headquarters. He received a B.A. in English, specializing in journalism, from the University of New Hampshire.
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