Dr. Google, Better or Worse?
“It Will Not Feel the Warm of Your Body, the Pain of Your Sore, and the Empathy You
Need”
Giordano Bandi Lolok1), Syaiful Islam2), M. Shulfie Asadul J.3)
1)
Medical Faculty of Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Abstract
Background : Google is a search engine that began operating in 1997. Over time, Google
became the most popular search engine on the world wide web to obtain information, including
health information, such as various types of disease and its treatment. Therefore, in this time,
many internet users resolve their health problems by using Google, or what we call Dr. Google
services, but it is still debatable among the world community. This is because Dr. Google has a
positive and negative impact on a person who would use this as a primary health service.
Dr. Google is able to cure diseases because they are able to provide quick and instant access of
medical information that would not be provided back where internet did not exist. Full of
doubts, Dr. Google raises controversy because the information obtained is not entirely
trustworthy and is not supported by a doctor's diagnosis, therefore patients do not know the
dose and duration of drug therapy, and can lead to complications. On the 26 cases, Google
gives the correct diagnosis in 15 cases, while in 11 other cases, Google approach the correct
diagnosis, but is not specific enough to be considered correct (Hangwa & Jennifer,
2006:1143). Therefore, as an internet users, we must use these services appropriately. Users
of Dr. Google should know what the symptoms and signs of their illness before searching
information. If they do not know or doubt, it is better to consult a doctor immediately to
avoid misdiagnostic. In addition, users are also expected to find sources of information on the
trusted site.
Objective : Through this poster, we present the advantages and disadvantages of Dr. Google, in
order to increase awareness and to avoid misdiagnostic towards the user that is using Dr
Google.
Contact Details :
Directors ofAuthors
Giordano Bandi Lolok
[email protected]
+6282271857479
Syaiful Islam
[email protected]
M. Shulfie Asadul J
[email protected]