"I wouldn't look online at symptoms too often, mainly for rashes and visible symptoms. I'll even do it sometimes after I've already been to the doctor. I will look up to see what's going on and get a better understanding about it."
Bay of Plenty District Health Board GP liaison Joe Bourne, who also worked for Nga Kakano Foundation Family Health Services in Te Puke, said more people were visiting GP's surgeries after conducted their own research. He did not know whether this had affected visit numbers.
"In general it's a good thing for people to have knowledge and be more empowered. "The challenge is finding reputable sources of information ..."
Being registered with a general practice gave a GP insight into a person's whole health history and could give more relevant advice for a patient, Dr Bourne said.
The internet could provide a wealth of information on health issues but it needed to be treated with caution, Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners medical director Samantha Murton said.
"GPs are always willing to speak to their patients about any concerns they may have and we would always advise them to contact their doctor if they do have queries about possible symptoms they have found on-line," Dr Murton said.
Ministry of Health chief medical officer Don Mackie said a wide range of material was available on the internet for people seeking information on medical conditions or symptoms but people should be careful to make sure the information was from a reputable medical website.
