40. How Online Misinformation Leads to Health Anxiety and False Alarms
Sarah, a 28-year-old in Toronto, spends hours online researching symptoms for a minor headache. She stumbles upon forums and websites suggesting serious illnesses, leading her to believe she has a rare neurological disorder.
Individual outcomes
Sarah experiences increased anxiety and depression, leading to her skipping work and social activities.
Societal outcomes
On a societal level, there's a rise in health anxiety and misdiagnosis, burdening healthcare systems with unnecessary tests and treatments. When confronted with the reality, some people will insist on their self-diagnosis, which can heighten distrust in doctors with people more likely to avoid visiting their GP and opting to self-medicate instead, leading to potentially dangerous outcomes or death.
Competences involved in this scenario:
Social systems affected by this scenario:
M6. Claim verification
M9. Ethical considerations
Healthcare Providers
Mental Health Services
Media