By Jesse Noyes
When something is ailing you, it’s hard to resist the instinct to jump online for a diagnosis. It's been a well-known trend in the United States for years.
Self-diagnosing — when someone gathers information about their symptoms and identifies a diagnosis without seeing a doctor — is rising. A survey by Tebra found that about 1 in 4 respondents had self-diagnosed a condition based on social media information.
Of people who self-diagnose, Gen Z made up the biggest proportion, as 30% reported doing so. Millennials were next most likely to self-diagnose, at 26%.
The survey also provided insight into what diagnoses people were most likely to self-identify. About 48% of people self-diagnosed with anxiety, and 37% with depression. Since heart conditions share symptoms with either diagnosis, the lack of medical oversight carries potential risks.
Is self-diagnosis a bad thing?
When you have a medical concern, seeing a medical provider with education, training, and a license is the gold standard. These practitioners gather evidence from symptoms, medical tests, and experience to make those decisions. Yet, many people do not have the time or may not have the financial means to visit a doctor.
They often aim to determine whether the issue is urgent enough to warrant medical care. So they turn to social media to research their symptoms and what they may mean.
Self-diagnosis often leads to supported care
Tebra’s survey found that a significant percentage of people — about 43% of those who had self-diagnosed — went on to seek medical care from a doctor. The percentage who didn’t may not have received the medical care and guidance they needed.
The survey also notes that 82% of people who had self-diagnosed and sought care received confirmation of their suspected condition. This means that, among those who bring their self-diagnosis to a doctor, that self-diagnosis is accurate more often than not.
What are the benefits of self-diagnosis?
Self-diagnosing should never take the place of getting care from a doctor. However, there are some reasons why people turn to it:
- Self-diagnosis helps people advocate for themselves. They gain insight into what is happening (and also what they may not be experiencing), allowing them to make better decisions about the care they receive.
- Self-diagnosis opens the conversation about care, especially mental health care, and so helps to normalize mental health.
- It also helps people to decide to seek care. When someone on social media confirms that symptoms are problematic, that may be enough to push someone to go to the ER instead of just waiting it out.
What are the drawbacks of self-diagnosis?
There are numerous situations where self-diagnosis can cause harm.
- The answers could be wrong. A person might conclude or be told they are experiencing anxiety but could, in fact, be having a heart attack. That means they may not seek care when they need it most.
- Symptoms are often shared between conditions, making it difficult for people on social media to diagnose precisely without lab results and a physical examination.
- It can lead to unnecessary worry when a person is inaccurate.
What is most important here is to note that self-diagnosing is on the rise, and doctors and other practitioners need to be ready to address it with their patients. Encourage patients to start conversations with providers about health complications sooner to avoid this path of self-diagnosis.
Jesse Noyes is Tebra's VP of Content Marketing. Visit Tebra