This document describes a research study using a MOOC to investigate how searching online for medical information affects the doctor-patient relationship. The MOOC asked participants to diagnose six medical case studies and complete surveys. Over 200 people participated, and data collection is complete. Preliminary results found high rates of online medical searching and a strong correlation between MOOC participants' diagnoses and doctors' diagnoses. The study aims to provide insights into the benefits and risks of online medical searching and its impact on healthcare. MOOCs show potential as a research tool but also have limitations like self-selection bias and low completion rates that must be considered.

1. How MOOCs can be used as an
instrument of scientific research
Claudia Zimmermann
Michael Kopp
Martin Ebner

2. „Have you ever researched medical
information online to diagnose yourself?“

3. The Dr. Internet Project
Relevance?
Digital era – Health Literacy – „Morbus Google“
Research question?
How does the practice of searching online for medical
information affects the doctor-patient relationship, and what
benefits and risks are associated with this behavior?
Research design?
MOOC & interview study & questionnaire-based survey
Current state?
MOOC completed, data collection finished, data
analysis in progress

4. Description of the MOOC
 Short questionnaire at the beginning
 Six medical case studies to be
assessed and diagnosed by the
participants
 Special quiz format to gather data on
diagnosing preferences and to
provide feedback
 Informative interviews with the
general practitioner who designed the
case studies
© Uni Graz / Tzivanopoulos

5. 5
Teaser Dr. Internet MOOC

6. 6
Diagnostic Quiz

7. 7
Diagnostic Quiz (resolved)

8. 8
MOOC Questionnaire

9. Results (MOOC questionnaire, n=208)
 Sociodemographics:
60% female
Average age 38.5 years (range 11-75)
57% university education
 Health:
69% content or very content with their health
57% fairly or very health-conscious
 Internet:
93% have googled symptoms of diseases before
40% told their physician about google results
32% skipped a medical consultation because of their
online search results

10. 10
Results (Diagnostic Quiz)
MOOC users: n = 130-43
Doctors: n = 7 or 19
1
2
3
4
Case 1
MOOC
Doctors

11. 11
1
2
3
4
Case 2
MOOC
Doctors
1
2
3
4
Case 3
MOOC
Doctors
1
2
3
4
Case 4
MOOC
Doctors
1
2
3
4
Case 5
MOOC
Doctors

12. 12
Diagnostic Quiz
1
2
3
4
Case 6
MOOC
Doctors

13. Results (diagnostic quiz)
 Correlation coefficients for the diagnosing
assessments of doctors and MOOC users confirm
a strong correlation (r > .79 in all but one case)
 Doctors and MOOC users have a similar
standard deviation (averaged per case), with
MOOC users varying between 0.72-0.88 and
doctors between 0.59-0.94)
LIMITATIONS: sample size, doctors‘ specialty

14. BENEFITS
 Simple and convenient
 Innovative way of
presenting materials,
administering tests, etc.
 Motivation
 Repeated testing
 Intervention research
(evaluation and
implementation)
MOOCs as research tools
DRAWBACKS
 Recruting bias
 Limitations with regard
to research topics
 Low completion rate and
declining frequency of
activities
 Costs involved
 Challenges in research
design and data analysis

15. Curious? (…and in command of
the German language?)
Register at www.imoox.at
Start date (2nd run): May 2nd 2016
Duration: 6 weeks