cyberchondriac
a person who diagnoses their own illnesses online
TRANSLATION
cyberchondriac = Bezeichnung für Leidenswillige, die sich im Internet mit Symptomen und potenziellen Maladien versorgen (auch e-Patient genannt) oder auch jemand der unter Internetsucht leidet. (Stern Magazin, DH) cyberchondria - Cyberchondrie --- GOOGLE INDEX cyberchondriac (person): approximately 20,000 hits cyberchondria (disease) : approximately 14,000 hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Whether helpful or not, some of the information CYBERCHONDRIACS obtain during online searches winds up as printed-out Web pages that are handed to doctors at the beginning of an examination or consultation.
(adapted from USA Today)
---
As a physician, I'm not troubled by the autonomy of the informed patient. What troubles me is the partially informed patient and, frankly, the misinformed patient -- the patient who crosses the line from Internet-educated patient to CYBERCHONDRIAC.
(Wall Street Journal)
(adapted from USA Today)
---
As a physician, I'm not troubled by the autonomy of the informed patient. What troubles me is the partially informed patient and, frankly, the misinformed patient -- the patient who crosses the line from Internet-educated patient to CYBERCHONDRIAC.
(Wall Street Journal)
Did you
know?
cyberchondriac
new word
- a person who imagines they have a particular disease because their symptoms match those listed on an Internet health site
(Wordspy)
- a person who is addicted to Internet surfing
(DH)
---
WORD ORIGIN
Cyberchondria is a play on the word hypochondria (an imaginary ailment). Cyber is a prefix meaning anything related to computers and the Internet. Hypochondria derives from the Latin for upper abdomen (formerly regarded as the seat of hypochondria) and from Greek, literally meaning the parts under the cartilage of the breastbone (hypo = under + chondros = cartilage).
While cyberchondriac can be used to describe someone who is addicted to Internet surfing, the term is applied primarily to people who frequently use the Internet to research diseases and maladies. This can sometimes lead to a misdiagnosis or worse yet finding a fraudulent cure.
Cyberchondriacs typically print out and give this information to their physician before an examination or visit. Some physicians complain about the excessive paperwork and time it takes to discuss the patient's online research.
The Harris Poll brought cyberchondria to the public's attention in a published survey that tracked the number of people looking up health information online. The survey found that after three years of modest growth, the number of adults looking for online health advice had jumped by 16 percent to 136 million. The researchers say that part of this rise has been caused by a significant increase in the number of Americans with access to the Internet - now standing at 77 percent of all adults. The average cyberchondriac, Harris says, searches the Web for health information five times a month.
Some physicians see a positive side to this development. British physician Dr Adrian Midgley told BBC News Online that his practice relied heavily on the Net for information. He said he never discourages patients from bringing information to him and they often leave with armfuls of paper that he has downloaded for them. "I do think it is useful for doctors to become computer literate,” he added.
Dr. Midgley went on to say that online health research "is a double-edged sword and unfortunately some patients have their expectations heightened because some Web sites offer drugs and treatments that are only available in the United States. But the other side is that patients can use it to get information about their ailments. It's all about using the Internet safely."
(sources: The Register, Wordspy, BBC Online )
---
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"I was happy when my Mother finally got online. The only problem now is, she's becoming a bit of a cyberchondriac.”
new word
- a person who imagines they have a particular disease because their symptoms match those listed on an Internet health site
(Wordspy)
- a person who is addicted to Internet surfing
(DH)
---
WORD ORIGIN
Cyberchondria is a play on the word hypochondria (an imaginary ailment). Cyber is a prefix meaning anything related to computers and the Internet. Hypochondria derives from the Latin for upper abdomen (formerly regarded as the seat of hypochondria) and from Greek, literally meaning the parts under the cartilage of the breastbone (hypo = under + chondros = cartilage).
While cyberchondriac can be used to describe someone who is addicted to Internet surfing, the term is applied primarily to people who frequently use the Internet to research diseases and maladies. This can sometimes lead to a misdiagnosis or worse yet finding a fraudulent cure.
Cyberchondriacs typically print out and give this information to their physician before an examination or visit. Some physicians complain about the excessive paperwork and time it takes to discuss the patient's online research.
The Harris Poll brought cyberchondria to the public's attention in a published survey that tracked the number of people looking up health information online. The survey found that after three years of modest growth, the number of adults looking for online health advice had jumped by 16 percent to 136 million. The researchers say that part of this rise has been caused by a significant increase in the number of Americans with access to the Internet - now standing at 77 percent of all adults. The average cyberchondriac, Harris says, searches the Web for health information five times a month.
Some physicians see a positive side to this development. British physician Dr Adrian Midgley told BBC News Online that his practice relied heavily on the Net for information. He said he never discourages patients from bringing information to him and they often leave with armfuls of paper that he has downloaded for them. "I do think it is useful for doctors to become computer literate,” he added.
Dr. Midgley went on to say that online health research "is a double-edged sword and unfortunately some patients have their expectations heightened because some Web sites offer drugs and treatments that are only available in the United States. But the other side is that patients can use it to get information about their ailments. It's all about using the Internet safely."
(sources: The Register, Wordspy, BBC Online )
---
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"I was happy when my Mother finally got online. The only problem now is, she's becoming a bit of a cyberchondriac.”
