Prevalence of Internet-based Self-medical Diagnosis among Indian Nonmedical Undergraduate Students: An Observational Cross-sectional Survey

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Self-medical diagnosis using the Internet has become a common practice. Increasing use of technology and readily available health-related information on the Internet is a major reason for this practice. Self-medical diagnosis can have some advantages as well as disadvantages.Aim:To study the status, prevalence, and need of Internet usage for self-medical diagnosis among nonmedical undergraduate students and if gender, residency, and year of the study affect it.Methodology:After ethical clearance, an e-form with 12 closed-ended questions designed on Google Forms was randomly circulated to nonmedical Indian undergraduate students. The 986 responses gained over 3 months were tabulated and statistically analyzed using the SPSS statistical software 23.0 Version and Chi-square test.Results:The study revealed that convenience, accessibility, and a desire for immediate answers were key factors driving individuals to engage in Internet-based self-medical diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in gender, type of residency, and year of the study to any of the questions regarding the role of Internet in self-medical diagnosis.Conclusion:Participants acknowledged the presence of misinformation, conflicting advice, and difficulty in accurately interpreting medical information online. The risk of misdiagnosis, heightened anxiety, and inappropriate self-treatment emerged as noteworthy concerns, emphasizing the need for cautious engagement and the importance of seeking professional medical guidance to enable a more balanced approach.