The Importance of Independent Empirical Evidence and Why We Disagree With Multmeier et al. (2021)

Abstract

For the first time, Jungmann et al. (2020) showed in a randomized controlled trial that using a health app to request health-related information can lead to similar negative emotional and behavioral effects as searching online for health-related information. In 2021, Multmeier and colleagues published a Letter to the Editor referring to these findings. In our response, we critically evaluate their major comments and ask for empirical evidence supporting their claims. We provide an outlook on how we envision the scientific discourse regarding the findings and why further peer-reviewed (at best, open science oriented) publications are essential.