A study published last week in the
British Medical Journal and
reported in Reuters Health and other general interest media suggested that physicians might turn to Google as a diagnostic aid.
In the simulation run by the journal authors, Google selected the
correct diagnosis 58% of the time.
While the idea of using Google as an ersatz clinical decision-support
system is clever, a 58% accuracy rate is unacceptable -- in either a
human clinician or a software program. Google, of course, was not
designed for this purpose. It uses a Boolean search engine -- with
and/or logic -- to scan a massive, unverified database, the Internet.
Older-generation diagnosis-decision software systems have much higher
accuracy rates. In addition, the latest generation of diagnosis
reminder systems, such as Isabel, consistently suggest the proper
diagnosis 90% of the time. These new programs use advanced
natural-language processing algorithms -- a newer, more powerful search
technique -- to scan a specific database of medical journals and texts.
This produces more accurate, higher-quality search results.
The aim of diagnosis support software is to support, not replace, the
"learned intermediary" by providing highly reliable medical
information in an easy-to-use format. Google is great for some
things, but it would be a mistake for physicians to rely on it in
critical cases.
Joseph Britto, M.D.
Chief executive
officer
Isabel Healthcare
Reston, Va.
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