Googling for a diagnosis—use of Google as a diagnostic aid: internet based studyHangwi Tang, Jennifer Hwee Kwoon Ng

BMJ 2006;333;1143-1145

Speaker : Yen‐Jhih Huang Advisor  : Yu‐Chuan Li

How good is Googlein helping doctors to reach the correct diagnosis? 

Copyright  is aWee   http://www.flickr.com/photos/entrospeck/7760134/ 

MethodDifficult diagnostic cases

• New England Journal of Medicine (2005)

• Excluded management cases

• Selected three to five search terms

• Search• Select & Record (three most prominent diagnoses)

- First three pages (30 documents)- Not Suggest : three most likely diagnoses

• Compared the correct diagnoses

Method

Copyright  is pigpogm  http://www.flickr.com/photos/pigpogm/143999774/ 

• Identified 26 cases• Correct diagnosis in 15 cases

(58%, 95% confidence interval 38% to 77%)

Results

• Complex diseases with non-specific symptoms• Common diseases with rare presentations

• Depend on the searchers’ knowledge base• Doctor• Patient

• Google Scholar vs PubMed

Discussion

Case 10• Fever• Bilateral thigh pain • Weakness

Google Diagnosis：Amyotrophy

Final Diagnosis：Ehrlichiosis

Copyright  is  e walk http://www.flickr.com/photos/walker ep/3086674683/ 

Case 18• Fibroma• Astrocytoma• Tumor• Leiomyoma• Scoliosis

Google Diagnosis：Tuberous Sclerosis

Final Diagnosis：Endometriosis

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Conclusions

• Most common uses of the web( Health Information , 2001)

• Need to become proficient

My Test• 4 case success

(case 14、16、18、19)

• 19/26 (73%)

• Case 31 : Terms unsuitable