2022 article
Googling for a veterinary diagnosis: A replication study using Google as a diagnostic aid
Allen, E. C., Alpi, K. M., Schaaf, G. W., & Marks, S. L. (2022, July 11). JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE.
author keywords: differential diagnoses; information resources; open access; problem lists
MeSH headings : Animals; Cat Diseases / diagnosis; Cats; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis, Differential; Dog Diseases / diagnosis; Dogs; Search Engine; Veterinarians; Veterinary Medicine / methods; Veterinary Medicine / trends
TL;DR:
Substantial amounts of information found searching Google using keywords related to complicated or unusual cases could assist veterinarians to reinforce their initial diagnosis or consider other differential diagnoses.
(via Semantic Scholar)
open access via www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (repository)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
3. Good Health and Well-being
(Web of Science)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: July 18, 2022
AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to replicate in the veterinary context a BMJ study using Google to assist in diagnosis of complex cases.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo assess percentage of diagnoses identified using Google as a diagnostic aid in veterinary medicine.AnimalsNone; 13 cases in cats and 17 in dogs published in JAVMA.MethodsCross‐sectional survey of Google results from searches using keywords generated independently by a generalist and a specialist veterinarian who reviewed the published case history and diagnostic components while blind to the diagnosis. They offered diagnoses and generated up to 5 search strategies for each case. The top 30 Google results for each search were reviewed by the generalist to inform a final Google‐aided diagnosis. Both veterinarians' initial diagnoses and the Google‐aided diagnoses were compared with the published diagnoses.ResultsGoogle searching led to 52 diagnoses out of 60 possible. Twenty‐two (42%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 29%‐55%) Google‐aided diagnoses matched the JAVMA diagnosis. This accuracy rate does not differ significantly from 58% (n = 15/26, 95% CI 38%‐77%) identified in the BMJ study. Google‐aided results were not statistically different from those achieved unaided by each veterinarian (33%, 95% CI 16%‐50%).Conclusions and Clinical ImportancePublished information found searching Google using keywords related to complicated or unusual cases could assist veterinarians to reinforce their initial diagnosis or consider other differential diagnoses. Search strategies using words representing either signs or the preliminary diagnoses can yield results useful to confirming a correct diagnosis.