A public opinion survey by the University of Hong Kong found that three out of five Hong Kong residents search online first when they suspect they are ill, rather than going to the hospital. This was reported by the local newspaper The Standard on November 5.
The survey, conducted in October, interviewed 516 Hong Kong residents aged 25 to 60. Results showed 57% had searched for medical information online in the past 12 months. The average number of searches was 11, with 17% of respondents reporting searching over 30 medical-related articles.
The most searched topic was "chronic pain" (27%). This was followed by "chronic diseases" such as hypertension and diabetes, and "skin problems" (each at 20%).
As these results clearly show, a pronounced tendency to trust the internet is also evident. 54% cited "health-related information, including social media," 33% cited "articles found by chance," 32% cited "sites with many 'likes' on Facebook," and 25% cited "blogs by popular celebrities" as sources they refer to.
Furthermore, 48% of respondents stated they "no longer consult doctors because online information has become more comprehensive," highlighting a trend of citizens increasingly avoiding hospitals.
