See the doctor, online

Filed in archive Social Web on February 20, 2008

The web with all of it's modern features has brought us a lot of information, often free or almost free to have. This has improved our lives a great deal: We know much more about all kinds of things. Especially consumers benefit from this as they are now able to find info about things they want to buy, before choosing want brand or type.

Another interesting aspect of online information is medical information. Where people have always been discussing their conditions, situations or other medical related things online using forums and blogs, there are more and more sites appearing online that offer solid information and advice, based on symptoms. Self-help, a huge market, profits from this as people turn to books and websites more and more for help.

This development is basically good, but people should be aware of the risks, as some tend to self diagnose using a website, using misinterpreted symptoms and other data.




In the self-help category, First Thirty Daysis a good one. The site isn't old yet but it raised $5 million at startup, meaning that investors acknowledge the value of good self-help information.
First Thirty Days focusses on important changes in life, and how to adjust properly to a new situation by working on yourself in the first 30 days.