Nearly half of Brits have used online health information to self-diagnose at least once in the past year, and 18 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds have done so at least four times in the past year but the majority want more regulation of online health material, according to Axa.
Axa Health has today launched its new report: ‘From Search to Solution: The Prognosis for Self-Diagnosis in the UK’, highlighting the state of self-diagnosis in the UK.
The report looks at how access to healthcare is changing due to online tools, demonstrating a growing dependence on digital health services.
The majority of respondents, around 78 per cent, want more regulation of online health material; over half of them prefer verified medical professional accounts, and 36 per cent support certification of a health kite-mark certification to ensure the credibility of online health content.
According to the report, the primary causes of self-diagnosis were extensive waiting lists, reported by 22 per cent, and trouble scheduling timely NHS appointments (36 per cent). Around 42 per cent self-diagnose minor ailments like colds and hay fever, but 32 per cent self-diagnose mental health problems, especially among young people, ages 16 to 24 (52 per cent).
The report found that 54 per cent of people between the ages of 35 and 44 self-diagnose, with NHS wait lists being the main causes. Around 55 per cent of people use the NHS website for self-diagnosis, making it the most reliable online health resource.
The average Brit spends over two months a year feeling nervous about online health information, while 44 per cent of men and 34 per cent of women take three to four days off work due to health-related anxiety.
The report makes recommendations for enhancing the security and precision of online health information. Among these are the creation of a health kite-mark certification to verify accuracy, the introduction of verified accounts for medical professionals on social media, the enforcement of more stringent regulations for online health content, and the implementation of mechanisms to flag inaccurate health information while training users to identify dubious sources.
AXA Health CEO Heather Smith says: “As digital tools in healthcare become increasingly integral – and for the most part, helpful – it’s crucial to ensure that the information people rely on is accurate and safe. Our report highlights the need for stronger regulation and safeguarding measures to protect the public from the risks of health misinformation, especially when it comes to self-diagnosis. The future of healthcare is evolving, and digital options are becoming an important part of this, but there needs to be a strategy in place to ensure we get the best out of digital tools and protect the public.”
