Recent studies carried out on self-medication showed that is a very common practice and that it is a more serious problem in some economically deprived societies.

This practice can be driven by limited access to healthcare, limited financial resources, and a reliance on traditional and other alternative forms of medical treatment.

But for the purpose of this article, I would like to discuss how the rapid proliferation of the internet has led to the availability of health information to communities leading to self-diagnosis and self-medication to a certain extent.

Self-medication which is also known as self-care/self- administration, is a growing practice where persons, families, or communities choose medications to treat health conditions or indications without the opinion of a competent medical professional.

Unsupervised self-medication involves the use of medications to treat health conditions or symptoms without the guidance of a healthcare professional and is usually based on information from the internet.

This can lead to missed or wrong diagnoses, incorrect dosages, and interactions with other medications, and can mask underlying health conditions that require urgent medical attention.

The ease of accessing the internet and smart devices like phones and computers has changed everything. In the past, Rwandans used to get most of their health information from their doctors and other healthcare providers like nurses and midwives, but this is gradually changing, especially in the younger generation.

We are seeing more and more of the community getting health information from the internet. One of the challenges of using online health information is determining the credibility and reliability of the sources.

Anyone can publish information online, and it can be difficult to distinguish between accurate, evidence-based information and misinformation or biased information. A good example is during the early start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world was in dire need of medical information about the disease and many people looked at the internet as an option to get information, leading to a lot of self-medication based on what they read on the internet.

In certain excesses, there is cyberchondria, quite similar to hypochondria, where a person excessively uses the internet to search for symptoms and health conditions and ends up very stressed and anxious about what they find as the potential illness they may have.

We also have situations where some patients come into hospitals with prior information from the internet and pester doctors/nurses for certain diagnoses, results, or use of unnecessary medical tests because they may have read about it on the internet.

When correct online sources are used, this can be empowering for patients, there are some good and reliable online resources for medical information, but we need to be discerning and critical when using these resources to check on our health status to ensure that the information is the right kind.

Actually, in some instances, self-care is encouraged when the context is correct. Self-care can be a valuable complement to professional medical care, and it can help to reduce the burden on healthcare systems. For example, in the case of minor illnesses or injuries, self-care can be an effective way to manage symptoms and promote healing without requiring a visit to a healthcare provider. This can help to reduce the demand for medical services and allow healthcare resources to be directed towards more serious or complex conditions.

Healthcare providers often worry about how people use information from the internet when there is limited health literacy, and the information may be complicated or of poor quality.

When the right sources are consulted, the internet can be a good source of information and in recent times we see internet-based interactive and digital-based formats like Babyl that actually promote understanding of diagnosis and better health outcomes.

It’s always safe to use correct internet material as a supplement to information from healthcare providers and not a replacement. To ensure that the information you are accessing is reliable and accurate, it is important to look for information from trusted sources, such as government agencies, academic institutions, and reputable health organisations. It is also important to critically evaluate the information you find, considering the source, the author’s credentials, and whether the information is supported by credible evidence.

Online diagnosis and self-medication can be dangerous and may result in serious harm. It is important to seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns you may have. There is a need to increase awareness within our communities and implement ways to promote judicious and safe practices. Improved knowledge and understanding about this problem of online diagnosis and self-medication may result in better use of health information from the internet.

Dr Vincent Mutabazi is an applied epidemiologist

Twitter: @VkneeM