Search engine as a diagnostic tool in difficult immunological and allergologic cases: is Google useful?
BACKGROUND
Web search engines are an important tool in communication and diffusion of knowledge. Among these, Google appears to be the most popular one: in August 2008, it accounted for 87% of all web searches in the UK, compared with Yahoo's 3.3%. Google's value as a diagnostic guide in general medicine was recently reported. The aim of this comparative cross-sectional study was to evaluate whether searching Google with disease-related terms was effective in the identification and diagnosis of complex immunological and allergic cases.


METHODS
Forty-five case reports were randomly selected by an independent observer from peer-reviewed medical journals. Clinical data were presented separately to three investigators, blinded to the final diagnoses. Investigator A was a Consultant with an expert knowledge in Internal Medicine and Allergy (IM&A) and basic computing skills. Investigator B was a Registrar in IM&A. Investigator C was a Research Nurse. Both Investigators B and C were familiar with computers and search engines. For every clinical case presented, each investigator independently carried out an Internet search using Google to provide a final diagnosis. Their results were then compared with the published diagnoses.


RESULTS
Correct diagnoses were provided in 30/45 (66%) cases, 39/45 (86%) cases, and in 29/45 (64%) cases by investigator A, B, and C, respectively. All of the three investigators achieved the correct diagnosis in 19 cases (42%), and all of them failed in two cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This Google-based search was useful to identify an appropriate diagnosis in complex immunological and allergic cases. Computing skills may help to get better results.
Lombardi
C
C
Allergologic Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Sant'Orsola Hospital, Brescia, Italy. hso.allergologia@fatebenefratelli.it
Griffiths
E
E
McLeod
B
B
Caviglia
A
A
Penagos
M
M
D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*