title: [Doctor, know that your patient has Googled: Internet and reason for medical consultation].
abstract: The internet is increasingly used as a source of medical information, not only by healthcare professionals but by patients as well. We describe the case of Patient A, a 32-year-old male with symptoms of sinusitis. He found a treatment on the internet and was informed when to consult a general practitioner. We also describe Patient B, a 31-year-old female with symptoms of fatigue after the delivery of her second child. Her search on the internet led to several referrals to a medical specialist due to her conviction that her symptoms were caused by a hormonal imbalance. We conclude that medical information on the internet can support both the doctor and the patient, or it can present an obstacle to proper communication during a consultation. Awareness by medical professionals of the Googling behaviour of their patients may be helpful in detecting the underlying question and worries of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde, Leiden.
authors.forename: Tjitske
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van den Bruele
authors.forename: Hedwig M M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Vos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003142:Communication; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation