Recently, an alarming trend has been observed in Ukraine: more and more people stop trusting doctors and independently adjust the treatment prescribed to them. According to the survey, every second resident of our country resorts to self-medication, and every third person looks for answers to their questions about health on the Internet, turning to doctors for online consultations. This raises serious concerns because this approach can lead to negative health consequences.
However, a similar situation is observed not only in Ukraine. Of the 22 thousand respondents in 28 countries, many want to actively participate in their own treatment, and are not inclined to unquestioningly obey medical recommendations. In Ukraine, the number of “dissenters” has exceeded half, which is a very alarming signal. Only 37% of Ukrainians are ready to follow the doctor’s recommendations, while 53% of the doctor’s respondents, of course, will listen and then act as they see fit.
As for consultations on the Internet, in Ukraine this practice is not as widespread as in other countries. On average, 51% of the world's population gets answers to health questions via the Internet. And here only 33% of respondents admitted that they are treated in an “interactive” way. Additionally, trusted sources of health information included doctors, family, friends, and pharmacists.
However, not all sources of health information are reliable. Online consultations can be dangerous because doctors cannot fully assess a patient's condition without an in-person examination. In addition, many people who search for answers to their questions on the Internet do not have sufficient knowledge about medicine and may misinterpret the information, which can lead to negative consequences.
Doctors play a very important role in our lives, their professionalism and knowledge save our lives. That is why the issue of trust in doctors is very important. People should remember that they are not medical professionals, and no information found on the Internet can replace consultation with an experienced physician. Therefore, if you have any health problems, be sure to consult a doctor and follow his recommendations. After all, health is the most valuable wealth that needs to be preserved and protected, and this is only possible with the help of qualified medical care. Be healthy and don’t risk your health, trust the professionals in your field.