Is Your Medical Information Website Better Than Dr. Google?

Medical information is everywhere. Consumers have unprecedented access to online healthcare information regarding diseases, conditions, and therapeutics. However, not all information is created equal. Misinformation abounds, and pharmaceutical companies need dedicated tools to communicate directly with healthcare providers (HCPs) and consumers to ensure that the material they find is up-to-date and accurate.

Google reported up to 70,000 health-related searches every minute, which represented approximately 7% of the search engine powerhouse’s daily traffic in 2019¹. Relying on Dr. Google, however, leads to self-misdiagnosis, and the spread of misinformation. The rise of social media influence has exacerbated the situation as more and more younger consumers turn to online resources like TikTok for mental health, disease, and vaccine information, only to be routinely misled². Now more than ever, consumers need trustworthy, evidence-based sources.

Medical affairs (MA) teams provide the crucial information necessary to combat misinformation and provide reliable resources for HCPs and consumers. They coordinate the scientific message behind new treatments and developments and assist in getting drugs to those in need. These teams complement traditional sources of medical information that patients seek, such as talking to their physicians, pharmacists, or patient advocacy groups. Rather than replacing those experts, MA teams work with key stakeholders to provide consistent, scientifically accurate data on current and emerging therapeutics.

^{[1] Dr Google will see you now: Search giant wants to cash in on your medical queries (telegraph.co.uk}

^{[2] Prevalence of Health Misinformation on Social Media: Systematic Review - PMC (nih.gov)}