Trip Database Blog

Not particularly scientific but here is my attempt at comparing results from Google and Bing (using this rather useful side-by-side tool http://www.blackdog.ie/google-bing/search.php).

I’m based in the UK and the results went to the .com site (as opposed to .co.uk so it’s not clear what impact this might have. I’ve selected five searches which seem fairly reasonable terms.
I’ve also included the URLs so you can better see where the results are from.

Search term: prostate cancer screening

Google top 5

• Cancer – Prostate – Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide (www.cdc.gov/cancer/Prostate/publications/decisionguide)
• Prostate Cancer Screening – National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/prostate/patient)
• Prostate Cancer: Screening and Testing – National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/screening/prostate)
• Prostate Cancer Risk Management (www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/prostate/index.html)
• Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test? – MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer/HQ01273)

Bing top 5

• Prostate Cancer Screening – National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/prostate/patient)
• Cancer – Prostate – Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide (www.cdc.gov/cancer/Prostate/publications/decisionguide)
• Prostate cancer – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer)
• Problems with screening aren’t prostate cancer-specific (prostatecancerinfolink.net/2009/05/12/problems-with-screening-arent-prostate-cancer-specific)Prostate Cancer: Screening and Testing – National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/screening/prostate)

Verdict – A marginal win for Google, Bing returned results that were slightly less focussed (e.g. the general Wikipedia article on prostate cancer or slightly less reputable.

Search term: MMR autism

Google top 5

• Does the MMR Vaccine Cause Autism? – DukeHealth.org (http://www.dukehealth.org/HealthLibrary/AdviceFromDoctors/YourChildsHealth/mmr_vaccine_and_autism)
• Autism and the MMR Vaccine (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/mmr/)
• NIP: Vacsafe/Concerns/Autism/FAQs-Autism and MMR (http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/autism/autism-mmr.htm)
• BBC NEWS Health ‘No link’ between MMR and autism (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4311613.stm)
• NHS Blog Doctor: Barack Obama : MMR & autism, the wibble and the woo (http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/2009/01/barack-obama-mmr-autism-wibble-and-woo.html)

Bing top 5

• NIP: Vacsafe/Concerns/Autism/FAQs-Autism and MMR (http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/autism/autism-mmr.htm)
• Autism and the MMR Vaccine (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/mmr/)
• Link Between Autism And the Measles Mumps Rubella Vaccine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMR_vaccine_controversy)
• Does the MMR Vaccine Cause Autism? – DukeHealth.org (http://www.dukehealth.org/HealthLibrary/AdviceFromDoctors/YourChildsHealth/mmr_vaccine_and_autism)
• the Mmr Vaccination Causing Autism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMR_vaccine)

Verdict – A clear win for Bing. A controversial topic and it returned the most robust sources.

Search term: type 2 diabetes metformin

Google top 5

• Metformin: Oral Medication for Type 2 Diabetes – Metformin and …(http://diabetes.about.com/od/equipmentandbreakthroughs/a/metformin.htm)
• Oral Medications For Managing Type 2 Diabetes – Type 2 Diabetes …(http://diabetes.about.com/od/equipmentandbreakthroughs/p/oralmeds.htm)
• Diabetes – Treatments for Type 2 (http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27000260/)
• Type 2 diabetes treatment (http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/easdec/prevention/HBA1c%20&%20type%202%20diabetes.htm)
• Fighting Type 2 Diabetes With Metformin (http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/metformin.shtml)

Bing top 5

• Metformin: Oral Medication for Type 2 Diabetes – Metformin and …(http://diabetes.about.com/od/equipmentandbreakthroughs/a/metformin.htm)
• Merck Serono Launches Glucophage(R) Powder (innovative Powder … (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149042.php)
• Clinical Alert: Diet and Exercise Dramatically Delay Type 2 Diabetes … (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/alerts/diabetes01.html)
• Health Links Content: Lactic acidosis: Lactic acidosis associated with … (http://healthlinks.mediwire.com/main/Content.aspx?ArticleID=197139)
• NEJM — Reduction in the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes with Lifestyle … (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/346/6/393)

Verdict – Clear win for Google. I felt the results were more focussed using Google.

Search term: side effects statins

Google top 5

• Statins – drug class, medical uses, medication side effects, and …(http://www.medicinenet.com/statins/article.htm)
• Statins: Side effects of anti-cholesterol drugs questioned Mail …(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-392689/Statins-Side-effects-anti-cholesterol-drugs-questioned.html)
• Statins: the truth Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-432395/Statins-truth.html)
• Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven’t Been Told About Popular …(http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/statin.html)
• Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks – MayoClinic.com (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statin-side-effects/MY00205)

Bing top 5

• Statins – drug class, medical uses, medication side effects, and …(http://www.medicinenet.com/statins/article.htm)
• Statins Side Effects 2008 « teamrich.wordpress.com (http://teamrich.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/statins-side-effects-2008/)
• In the Real World, a Slew of Side Effects from Statins (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068057096279.htm)
• Statins’ Side Effects Under Fire – CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/11/eveningnews/main648685.shtml)
• Statins – Statin Drug Side Effects (http://www.spacedoc.net/statin_side_effects.html

Verdict – A draw, I wasn’t really impressed with either (half a point each)

Search term: acne

Google top 5

• Acne.org – Acne treatment and community (http://www.acne.org/)
• Acne vulgaris – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne_vulgaris)
• Acne Jeans, Shoes & Ready To Wear – Acne Online Shop (http://shop.acnestudios.com/)
• Acne.com – Acne Treatment Information (http://www.acne.com/)
• Acne (http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_acne.html)

Bing top 5

• Acne (Internal link to content provided by Mayo Clinic)
• Acne.org – Acne treatment and community (http://www.acne.org/)
• Acne.com – Acne Treatment Information (http://www.acne.com/)
• Acne vulgaris – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne_vulgaris)
• Acne (Pimples) Causes, Treatment Information and Types on MedicineNet … (http://www.medicinenet.com/acne/article.htm)

Verdict – A win for Bing.

Overall verdict is – rather boringly – a draw with two ‘wins’ each and the rather disappointing draw. Given that Bing is so new (2 days old) I think it’s pretty remarkable!

NOTE: See techcrunch’s none health comparison: Search Smackdown: Bing Vs. Google