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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.03329 |
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| _version_ | 1866912626790891520 |
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| author | Grasso, Michael A Rogalski, Alexandra Farrukh, Naveed Kotal, Anantaa Calleros, Enrique |
| author_facet | Grasso, Michael A Rogalski, Alexandra Farrukh, Naveed Kotal, Anantaa Calleros, Enrique |
| contents | Approximately one-third of adults search the internet for health information before visiting an emergency department (ED), with 75% encountering inaccurate content. This study examines how such searches influence patient care. We conducted an observational study of ED visits over a 12-month period, surveying 214 of 576 patients about pre-ED internet use. Data on demographics, comorbidities, acuity, orders, prescriptions, and dispositions were extracted. Patients who searched were typically younger, healthier, and more educated. Most used a general search engine to ask symptom-related questions. Compared to non-searchers, they were less likely to receive lab tests (RR 0.78, p=0.053), imaging (RR 0.75, p=0.094), medications (RR 0.67, p=0.038), or admission (RR 0.68, p=0.175). They were more likely to leave against medical advice (RR 1.67, p=0.067) and receive opioids (RR 1.56, p=0.151). Findings suggest inaccurate health information may contribute to mismatched expectations and altered care delivery. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_03329 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | When Patients Go to "Dr. Google" Before They Go to the Emergency Department Grasso, Michael A Rogalski, Alexandra Farrukh, Naveed Kotal, Anantaa Calleros, Enrique Computers and Society Approximately one-third of adults search the internet for health information before visiting an emergency department (ED), with 75% encountering inaccurate content. This study examines how such searches influence patient care. We conducted an observational study of ED visits over a 12-month period, surveying 214 of 576 patients about pre-ED internet use. Data on demographics, comorbidities, acuity, orders, prescriptions, and dispositions were extracted. Patients who searched were typically younger, healthier, and more educated. Most used a general search engine to ask symptom-related questions. Compared to non-searchers, they were less likely to receive lab tests (RR 0.78, p=0.053), imaging (RR 0.75, p=0.094), medications (RR 0.67, p=0.038), or admission (RR 0.68, p=0.175). They were more likely to leave against medical advice (RR 1.67, p=0.067) and receive opioids (RR 1.56, p=0.151). Findings suggest inaccurate health information may contribute to mismatched expectations and altered care delivery. |
| title | When Patients Go to "Dr. Google" Before They Go to the Emergency Department |
| topic | Computers and Society |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.03329 |