Internet portals usually form the first point of contact for health research

Popular research tool: network portals on health as the first port of call
"Dr. Google "is a self-evident research tool for many people when it comes to health. However, this becomes problematic if users do not approach the information critically enough when searching the internet. Experts have tips on what to look for when disease Googling.

The majority of Germans research on the Internet on health issues
What might the throbbing headache indicate? Which home remedy for diarrhea is the best one? And what does it actually mean when the doctor diagnoses "sinusitis"? Questions like these often lead to advice and information being sought on the internet. According to a representative survey by the communications consultancy MSL Germany, almost three quarters of the German population as a whole use the Internet regularly (42 percent) or occasionally (32 percent) for research on health issues. The network offers an endless stream of information, and it's often hard to keep track. The problem with searching with a search engine is that many only look at the highest ranked websites. But Klaus Koch from the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health said in a message from the news agency dpa: "The top hits are not a guarantee that the pages also provide current and balanced content on a subject."

The Internet is for most Germans a normal research tool when it comes to health. When searching the net you should always stay critical. (Image: Romolo Tavani / fotolia.com)

Information should be up to date
The Stiftung Warentest had a number of years ago tested a number of major health portals on the Internet. Gunnar Schwan, who was in charge of the project back then, knows what is important for good health. "They have to be balanced and up-to-date and transparent," says the expert, according to dpa. For example, several treatment options should always be described. In addition, a text should contain information about the author and his qualifications. It's also worth taking a look at the release date. "A text should not be older than two years," Schwan said. If, however, it should be noted that the content described is still current scientific standards.

Seal for health portals
According to the experts, two seals for health portals provide orientation: on the one hand, the Swiss Health on the Net Foundation's seal of approval and, on the other hand, the afgis seal from the Health Information System Action Forum. These certificates give a hint of reliability. However, according to Koch, they are no guarantee of balanced and correct information. Schwan warned against informing himself only on a portal. "One should always read several web pages on a topic." One gets thereby a rather balanced picture and could uncover contradictions with the data and evaluate. Internet forums on medical topics could sometimes be a useful, complementary point of contact. "There you can talk about experiences with certain remedies and treatments," says Schwan. However, it should always be kept in mind that often lay people share their knowledge.

Minister warns against self-diagnosis in the network
At the beginning of the year, Bavaria's health minister also warned against self-diagnoses on the Internet. In a press release, she said, "The internet can help people to be better informed or to remove a few ambiguities. But many internet offers are incomplete, dubious or even flawed. Uncertainty and unsubstantiated fear can be the result. "Minister Melanie Huml, who is a doctor herself, warned:" It is particularly dangerous when you are completely dispensed with a doctor's visit to serious illnesses. "

"Not just based on the Internet"
During and after the research, the question arises how to classify information. Health professionals usually only see them as a supplement to the doctor's advice. "They help to prepare for the appointment with the doctor in order to ask more specific questions," said Gretje Stelzenmüller from the Consumer Council North Rhine -Westphalia. Even after a visit to the doctor you can research additional information. According to Stelzenmüller, internet research on diseases makes sense, but she warned: "Information from the internet can also be misleading or misunderstood. That's why you should not just rely on the internet. "(Ad)