top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

French study: Diagnosing yourself online often ‘wrong’

People who “diagnose themselves” through online research before going to the doctor in France are wrong about their condition 91% of the time, a new study has shown.

The study, by Lyon-based health startup 360 Medics and published on Thursday October 17, asked 300 doctors about the phenomenon of patients intensively researching their symptoms on the internet before making or attending a GP appointment.

It found that 83% of doctors asked had already seen patients who had “diagnosed themselves” before coming to their appointment.

Yet, it found that 46% of these patients were “often incorrect” about their condition, along with a further 39% who were, the doctors said, “very rarely correct”. A further 6% were “never” correct, the study said.

Less than 10% of patients were “often” or “frequently” correct about their symptoms before visiting the doctor, the study showed.

Online health sites can offer patients considerable information about their symptoms or condition, doctors said, but they can also lead people to panic or worry needlessly when they wrongly believe their common symptoms to be a sign of something rare or very serious.

Dr Jean-Paul Hamon, president of the doctors’ association la Fédération des Médecins de France, said: “[Patients] are much more knowledgeable than before. But these [health] sites are not always trustworthy and can cause anxiety. They can be the best and worst of tools.”

Grégoire Pigné, Loire oncologist and co-founder of 360 Medics, the startup leading the study, explained to Le Parisien newspaper that the excess of information online has “changed the relationship between patient and doctor”.

He said: “We wanted to measure this figure, to see if it was a real phenomenon. Patients nowadays often come to us with a precise idea of what they [think] they have. Sometimes they even say what they want us to prescribe.

"We must explain to patients that their diagnosis is [likely] incorrect, which is not a great place to start when it comes to building a relationship of trust. Sometimes, patients are disappointed to leave the GP without the medicine they wanted.

“But on the other hand, if someone who is ill says to us, ‘I am afraid that I have this condition’, and if they are well-informed, it can help the discussion.

"There are even some patients that are experts, who have chronic illnesses, who have extremely detailed knowledge and can speak as equals with the doctor, and improve their care.”

The study comes after a 2015 report published by the University of Vienne and the University of Queensland, which gave the name “cyberchondria” to patients who consistently worry and/or diagnose themselves with serious conditions after looking up their “symptoms” online.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France