To explain how do advance internet research affect the physicians' way of

diagnosing and treating their patients:

The internet use for health related information by patients has become

increasingly significant. (Ahadzadeh, Sharif, Ong, & Khong, 2015) (Beck, et al., 2014)

(McMullan, 2006) (Pehora, et al., 2015) (Shroff, 2011) (Tonsaker, Bartlett, & Trpkov,

2014). According to Tan and Goonawardene (2017), more Patients are turning to the

Internet as their first source of health information on their health conditions before

seeking a professional diagnosis. Our study showed that Patients who sought Online

Health Information are difficult to manage because they come into the clinic with a

preconceived notion about their disease and this brings more anxiety to them. Since

patients do not have the necessary skills to evaluate medical information and relate it to

their own health conditions (Tan & Goonawardene, 2017), they tend to generalize and

associate to themselves everything they searched and this leads to fear and distress.

Physicians worry that Patients can input and search their symptoms on the internet, but

they do not have the clinical judgement to filter out which information will apply to them.

In the former times, Patients rely blindly on their physicians and believe them easily

without questions because medical information are restricted to medical professionals

(Oliviera,2014). Now the Internet Age is changing the Doctor-Patient-Relationship.

Since Patients have access to medical information online, they ask more details

regarding their condition. Physicians have a hard time disproving what they have

searched on the internet. However, we also found out that Online Health Seeking

Behavior of patients is helpful to physicians and can make the consultation easier if the
source is right because they will not have a hard time explaining about their condition.

The Physician and the Patient can have a good communication because Patients are

more involved in discussion about their diagnosis and treatment. As patients become

better informed, they are more actively involved in decision making about their health

(Tan & Goonawardene, 2017). Seeking health information from the internet can

promote greater patient engagement in their treatment management because they

understand their illness more (Tan & Goonawardene, 2017). Nonetheless, our results

also showed that the Online Health Seeking Behavior of Patients does not affect their

diagnosis and management. The physician will explain the diagnosis and management

to the patient the same way, whether or not he or she has Online Health Seeking

behavior.

Conclusion

Physician’s perception may vary on Patient’s Internet Health Seeking Behavior

and may affect their diagnosis and treatment depending on how Patients interpret what

they have searched online. Physicians have a new role, now they have to explain and

correct to their Patients the online information they got. The interaction of Physicians to

their Patients with Online Health Seeking Behavior are expected to change. Online

health seeking behavior of Patients will likely to be positive as long as they do not

appear to challenge the Physician when bringing in the information.

Recommendation:
 Future Research can delve into understanding the Patient’s perspective on their

Internet Health seeking Behavior and how they communicate it to their Physician

during consultation and if it has an impact on their relationship.

Ahadzadeh, A., Sharif, S. P., Ong, F., & Khong, K. (2015). Integrating Health Belief Model and Technology
Acceptance Model: An Investigation of Health-Related Internet Use. Journal of Medical Internet Research,
17(2). doi: 10.2196/jmir.3564

Tan, S. S., & Goonawardene, N. (2017). Internet Health Information Seeking and the Patient-Physician
Relationship: A Systematic Review. Journal of medical Internet research , 19(1), e9.
https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.5729

Oliveira, J. F. (2014). The effect of the internet on the patient-doctor relationship in a hospital in the city of
São Paulo. Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management, Vol. 11(No. 2), . 327-344. doi::
10.4301/S1807-17752014000200006