Effectiveness of the use of internet search by third year medical students to establish a clinical diagnosis

Nalliah S, Chan SLJ, Ong CLS, Suthan TH, Tan KC, She VNJ, Gupta E
Correspondence: Prof Sivalingam Nalliah, nelsonsivamani@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Introduction Internet search has been the main source for information and data mining in medical research. Its use by medical students has immensely contributed to learning activities. The main aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of internet use by medical students during their initial years of clinical instruction in order to establish a diagnosis after being provided with the history and physical findings of a clinical problem.
Methods A total of 47 cases derived from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) were utilised. The Google search engine was utilised to establish a reasonable diagnosis.
Results A congruency rate of 44.7% was obtained. This was considered commendable in view of the complexities of the cases published in the NEJM and the fact that the medical students were only in the third year of their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program.
Conclusion The study illustrates that common search engines could complement the traditionally used medical education methods.

Keywords: congruency, Google search, medical diagnosis
Singapore Med J 2010; 51(4): 332-338