Table 3.

The trajectory between initial Internet search term and final emergency department diagnosis.

Trajectory grouping	Examples from our sample
n (%)	Search term	Final diagnosis (ICD-9)
Flat trajectory—symptoms
53 (34%) searched symptoms	final diagnosis symptom based
	abdominal pain→	abdominal pain, other unspecified site (789.09)
	side pain, fever, shaking→	abdominal pain, unspecified site (789)
Flat trajectory—diagnosis
20 (13%) searched diagnosis→	final “formal” diagnosis (original search correct)
	COPD→	obstructive chronic bronchitis, with exacerbation (491.21)
33 (21%) searched diagnosis→	final “formal” diagnosis (original search incorrect) Severed tendons hand and wrist→	sprain or strain of unspecified site of wrist (842)
General to specific trajectory
35 (22%) searched symptoms→	final “formal” diagnosis
	fever→	pneumonia (486)
Specific to general trajectory
16 (10%) searched diagnosis→	final diagnosis symptom based
	stress fracture→	pain in soft tissues of limb (729.5)

N=157 (excluded 13 patients who only searched for treatment, anatomy, ED processes or “other”).