Mining User Generated Contents of Online Healthcare Forum - Suryaprabha M - Bog

The internet publicly collaborates and billions of people around the world have access to a self-sustaining facility. The internet is an encyclopaedic information resource. It is undeniable that computers and the Internet have become two of modern society's most important achievements. They brought a revolution in the domains of science, education, entertainment, healthcare, etc. The internet which literary means network of networks has brought a lot of impact in the day-to-day human life. The Internet has become a conventional part of people's information exists, and the majority of many people have access to it and they are confident in their ability to use it for their information needs. The Internet has made it possible the users to share and search for ideas, opinions, and recommendations.

According to Google, one out of every twenty searches is for health information. Additionally, 80 percent of internet users have looked up healthcare related topics such as specific diseases, symptoms, or medical treatments, and 34% have read other patients' opinions or experiences on blogs, social networks, or health communities, and 24% have looked up online reviews of specific drugs and treatments.

As a result of the rapid proliferation of healthcare information on the internet, more patients are turning to the internet as their first source of healthcare information and learning about their conditions before seeking a medical professional opinion. The majority of us rely on the Internet and health apps on our smartphones to get first-hand information regarding what might be the cause for the disease and what could be the possible treatments. Reputable medical websites offer in- depth, easy-to-understand information on symptoms, treatment options, and common diseases.