Medical search engine rated ‘better than Google’

A survey of over 200 GPs has found that two thirds feel that specialist search engines such as SearchMedica can be better sources for medical information than generic search engines such as Google.

Medix-UK independently surveyed 201 GPs last month on behalf of SearchMedica to find out which sources GPs use to find medical information online.

SearchMedica scored well on its ability to return medically relevant results, and split them into ‘helpful categories’ helping doctors find information quickly and easily. The search engine was also praised for giving users the option to decide if they search UK, NHS or GP’s choices results pages.

Henry Elkington, chief executive officer of CMPMedica, developers of SearchMedica.co.uk said: “These results are very exciting and demonstrate a shift in how professionals use the internet when searching for specialist information. Doctors need relevant information presented quickly and clearly.

He added: “They shouldn’t settle for a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to searching online. Their time is ultimately their patients’ wellbeing.”

The SearchMedica search engine was launched in October by CMPMedica, the publishers of GP newspaper Pulse. The company says practicing UK GPs have been consulted in developing aspects of the site, from advising on websites which should be included on the SearchMedica selected list to commenting on the search engine’s look and functionality.

A key feature of the search engine is that it takes the natural search results and organises them into GP related categories such as Patient Information and Evidence

The survey found that 51 per cent of GPs polled about SearchMedica had used it, but 49 per cent do not because they are either already using another search engine or had not heard of SearchMedica before the survey.

Results indicated that the majority of those who did use it (34 per cent) used it two or three times a month. Twenty-two GPs said they used it once only and 77 said they had never used it during patient consultations.

Asked to compare the GP search engine to searching Google for medical information some 33% of GPs polled said it was much better, 36% slightly better, while 16% rated it as worse or much worse.

Recent reports in medical journals have indicated that doctors are increasingly using search engines as a diagnostic tool.

Links

Specialist search engine for GPs launched

‘Googling’ aids difficult diagnoses