Do Dr. Google and Health Apps Have (Comparable) Side Effects? An Experimental Study

Abstract

Googling and using apps for health-related information are highly prevalent worldwide. So far, little is known about the emotional, body-related, and behavioral effects of using both Google and health-related apps. In our experimental study, bodily symptoms were first provoked by a standardized hyperventilation test. A total of 147 participants (96.6% students) were then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Googling for the causes of the currently experienced bodily symptoms, using a medical app to diagnose the experienced symptoms, and a waiting control condition. Health-related Internet use for symptoms led to stronger negative affect, increased health anxiety, and increased need to consult a physician compared with the control condition. Googling and using the medical app showed comparable adverse emotional and behavioral effects. The findings are in line with current models of cyberchondria in which health-related Internet use represents an essential factor in maintaining and amplifying emotional distress.

Health anxiety, cyberchondria, and coping in the current COVID-19 pandemic: Which factors are related to coronavirus anxiety?

“…Concerning triggering events and maintaining factors, the media might play a central role in epidemics/pandemics (e.g., excessive COVID-19-related Internet use as safety-seeking behavior; Garfin, Silver, & Holman, 2020;Hansen, 2009). The use of media can both itself represent a safety-seeking behavior (e.g., researching whether symptoms are a sign of a virus infection) and, due to possible disturbing information, can trigger or reinforce further safety-seeking behavior (e.g., further/excessive Internet use, visits to the doctor) (Brown et al, 2019;Garfin et al, 2020;Jungmann, Brand, Kolb, & Witthöft, 2020;Starcevic & Berle, 2013). Cyberchondria, repeated and/or excessive health-related Internet search associated with emotional stress (especially anxiety), is a common safety-seeking behavior that can increase and/or maintain worries and anxiety (Brown et al, 2019;Starcevic & Berle, 2013).…”

The use of health apps in primary care—results from a survey amongst general practitioners in Germany

“…Some have warned that health apps could produce measurement errors, or that incorrect application could lead to erroneous diagnosis and treatment [5]. Others also expressed concerns that what are referred to as symptom checkers may also encourage patients to self-diagnose and self-treat, possibly also leading to health anxiety [10].…”

Adolescents’ and parents’ anxiety during COVID-19: is there a role of cyberchondriasis and emotion regulation through the internet?

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are more likely to interpret body sensations as symptoms (Blakey & Abramowitz, 2017 ). These interpretations may foster their emotional distress, especially health anxiety (Jungmann et al, 2020 ). Cyberchondriasis and health-related Internet use escalate health anxiety (Jungmann & Witthöft, 2020 ; McMullan et al, 2019 ).…”