scholarly journals Internet Searches for Terms Related to Child Maltreatment During COVID-19: Infodemiology Approach (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madelon M E Riem ◽  
Pietro De Carli ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg ◽  
Marinus H van IJzendoorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Google Trends ◽  
World Health ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Conflict Tactics Scales ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
Physical Maltreatment ◽  
Conflict Tactics

UNSTRUCTURED We examined internet searches indicative of abusive parental behaviors before and after the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic (March 11, 2020) and subsequent lockdown measures in many countries worldwide. Using Google Trends, we inferred search trends between December 28, 2018, and December 27, 2020, for queries consisting of “mother,” “father,” or “parents” combined with each of the 11 maltreatment-related verbs used in the Conflict Tactics Scales, Parent-Child version. Raw search counts from the Google Trends data were estimated using Comscore. Of all 33 search terms, 28 terms showed increases in counts after the lockdowns began. These findings indicate a strong increase in internet searches relating to occurrence, causes, or consequences of emotional and physical maltreatment since the lockdowns began and call for the use of maltreatment-related queries to direct parents or children to online information and support.

scholarly journals Increase in Google Trends Regarding Telogen Effluvium Due To COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-139
Author(s):  
Jasmine Garg ◽  
Abigail Cline ◽  
Frederick Pereira
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hair Loss ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
The Future ◽  
Before And After

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the public interest in the United States of telogen effluvium before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in order to investigate the best therapeutic interventions for dermatologists in the future. Methods: We performed Google TrendsTM search for “COVID hair loss”, “telogen effluvium” and “hair loss” between 5/1/20 and 8/16/20. Conclusion: All three terms have increased in popularity for search terms since mid-March and were the most prevalent in the states that experienced the earliest increase in number of coronavirus cases.

scholarly journals Google Trends for pain search terms in the world’s most populated areas before and after the first recorded COVID-19 case: an infodemiological study (Preprint)

10.2196/27214 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Istvan Szilard Szilagyi ◽  
Torsten Ulrich ◽  
Kordula Lang-Illievich ◽  
Christoph Klivinyi ◽  
Gregor Alexander Schittek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Google Trends ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Before And After

The association between Japanese-language videos on YouTube regarding COVID-19 and Internet searches in Japan. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeo Yasu
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
The State ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND Serious public health problems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause an infodemic. Sources of information that may cause an infodemic include Internet searches and social networking services; YouTube, which consists of content created and uploaded by individuals, is one such source. OBJECTIVE To survey the relationship between YouTube regarding COVID-19 and Internet searches in Japan. METHODS We used Google Trends to survey the relationship between YouTube regarding COVID-19 and Internet searches in Japan. YouTube searches were performed on March 6, 2020 (before the state of emergency), April 14 (during the state of emergency), and May 27 (after the state of emergency was lifted), with 136, 113, and 140 sample videos evaluated, respectively. The Google Trends search was conducted from January 22nd to May 23rd, 2020. The main outcome measures were: (1) The characteristics of each video and (2) uploaded video and Google Trends. RESULTS Of the videos evaluated over the three periods, the total number of videos after removing duplicates was 331. Content related to COVID-19 was present in 23.3% of videos, content related to preventing the spread of infection in 20.5%, content related to treatment in 2.1%, and the other category represented 54.1% of videos. Only 9.1% of the videos were uploaded by healthcare professionals. In the periods before and after the state of emergency, with 7 April as the point of reference, there were 2.9 per day and 2.4 per day uploads before and after the state of emergency, respectively. Regarding Google Trends, before and after the state of emergency, there were 29.5 per day and 54.9 per day total searches, respectively. There were more videos of content related to COVID-19 in March than in April or May (p = .03, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS The information on COVID-19 did not indicate a relationship between the number of YouTube uploads and the number of Internet searches. Most of the videos on COVID-19 were created and uploaded by individuals. Therefore, people need to take great care when obtaining information from YouTube before or early in a pandemic, during which time scientific evidence is scarce.

scholarly journals Exploring HIV-AIDS interests in the MENA region using Internet based searches

First Monday ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Rawi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
Hiv Aids

Due to the scarcity of official data on sexually transmitted diseases in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), it becomes important to seek alternative indications on the online information interests and possible spread of such diseases. This paper uses news stories from 10 Arabic media outlets, Wikipedia views, and data from Google Trends as well as social media on the HIV-AIDS epidemic. In order to investigate whether Internet searches are driven or influenced by media coverage, the correlation between media coverage and Internet searches is examined. The results indicate that there are very weak to moderate correlations between the two as media coverage of HIV-AIDS is not a good indicator of public attention. Data sources that are more accessible, like Google and Wikipedia searches and social media, can provide a better understanding of public information interests. Also, data retrieved from Google Trends in relation to the search terms “AIDS treatment” and “AIDS symptoms” provide important indicators on the top cities from which searches often originate. The findings of the study can aid health practitioners in identifying interest in and awareness of HIV-AIDS in the MENA region.

scholarly journals Google Trends for Pain Search Terms in the World’s Most Populated Regions Before and After the First Recorded COVID-19 Case: Infodemiological Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Istvan-Szilard Szilagyi ◽  
Torsten Ullrich ◽  
Kordula Lang-Illievich ◽  
Christoph Klivinyi ◽  
Gregor Alexander Schittek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chest Pain ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Search Activity ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Pain Location ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Exploratory Data

BACKGROUND Web-based analysis of search queries has become a very useful method in various academic fields for understanding timely and regional differences in the public interest in certain terms and concepts. Particularly in health and medical research, Google Trends has been increasingly used over the last decade. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the search activity of pain-related parameters on Google Trends from among the most populated regions worldwide over a 3-year period from before the report of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in these regions (January 2018) until December 2020. METHODS Search terms from the following regions were used for the analysis: India, China, Europe, the United States, Brazil, Pakistan, and Indonesia. In total, 24 expressions of pain location were assessed. Search terms were extracted using the local language of the respective country. Python scripts were used for data mining. All statistical calculations were performed through exploratory data analysis and nonparametric Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> tests. RESULTS Although the overall search activity for pain-related terms increased, apart from pain entities such as headache, chest pain, and sore throat, we observed discordant search activity. Among the most populous regions, pain-related search parameters for shoulder, abdominal, and chest pain, headache, and toothache differed significantly before and after the first officially confirmed COVID-19 cases (for all, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). In addition, we observed a heterogenous, marked increase or reduction in pain-related search parameters among the most populated regions. CONCLUSIONS As internet searches are a surrogate for public interest, we assume that our data are indicative of an increased incidence of pain after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as these increased incidences vary across geographical and anatomical locations, our findings could potentially facilitate the development of specific strategies to support the most affected groups.

scholarly journals Assessing Criterion Validity of Using Internet Searches as a Measure of Public Attention

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Stiles ◽  
Patrick E. Grogan-Myers
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
United States Supreme Court ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Criterion Validity ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Random Digit Dialing ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Random Digit ◽  
Internet Searches

We examine the criterion validity of using internet searches as a measure of public attention to United States Supreme Court (USSC) cases.  First, we construct a measure of public attention to three cases by comparing relevant search terms in Google Trends to one top search terms of the year, then sum the measure week by week during the period of the research design.  To test the measure’s criterion validity, we replicate Scott and Saunders’ (2006) models using their dataset (created by conducting phone interviews of a national sample using random digit dialing) that was designed to assess awareness of USSC decisions. We find that public attention as measured by Google Trends data is predictive of public awareness of USSC decisions for two of their three models. We conclude that using free, publically available big data to measure public attention to USSC cases has criterion validity, and is a valuable tool for researchers studying public policy and process. 

scholarly journals The Influence of Media Coverage and Governmental Policies on Google Queries Related to COVID-19 Cutaneous Symptoms: Infodemiology Study

10.2196/25651 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e25651
Author(s):  
Solene Huynh Dagher ◽  
Guillaume Lamé ◽  
Thomas Hubiche ◽  
Khaled Ezzedine ◽  
Tu Anh Duong
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
World Health ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Background During COVID-19, studies have reported the appearance of internet searches for disease symptoms before their validation by the World Health Organization. This suggested that monitoring of these searches with tools including Google Trends may help monitor the pandemic itself. In Europe and North America, dermatologists reported an unexpected outbreak of cutaneous acral lesions (eg, chilblain-like lesions) in April 2020. However, external factors such as public communications may also hinder the use of Google Trends as an infodemiology tool. Objective The study aimed to assess the impact of media announcements and lockdown enforcement on internet searches related to cutaneous acral lesions during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Methods Two searches on Google Trends, including daily relative search volumes for (1) “toe” or “chilblains” and (2) “coronavirus,” were performed from January 1 to May 16, 2020, with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany as the countries of choice. The ratio of interest over time in “chilblains” and “coronavirus” was plotted. To assess the impact of lockdown enforcement and media coverage on these internet searches, we performed an interrupted time-series analysis for each country. Results The ratio of interest over time in “chilblains” to “coronavirus” showed a constant upward trend. In France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, lockdown enforcement was associated with a significant slope change for “chilblain” searches with a variation coefficient of 1.06 (SE 0.42) (P=0.01), 1.04 (SE 0.28) (P<.01), and 1.21 (SE 0.44) (P=0.01), respectively. After media announcements, these ratios significantly increased in France, Spain, Italy, and the United States with variation coefficients of 18.95 (SE 5.77) (P=.001), 31.31 (SE 6.31) (P<.001), 14.57 (SE 6.33) (P=.02), and 11.24 (SE 4.93) (P=.02), respectively, followed by a significant downward trend in France (–1.82 [SE 0.45]), Spain (–1.10 [SE 0.38]), and Italy (–0.93 [SE 0.33]) (P<.001, P=0.004, and P<.001, respectively). The adjusted R2 values were 0.311, 0.351, 0.325, and 0.305 for France, Spain, Italy, and the United States, respectively, suggesting an average correlation between time and the search volume; however, this correlation was weak for Germany and the United Kingdom. Conclusions To date, the association between chilblain-like lesions and COVID-19 remains controversial; however, our results indicate that Google queries of “chilblain” were highly influenced by media coverage and government policies, indicating that caution should be exercised when using Google Trends as a monitoring tool for emerging diseases.

An advertising campaign’s impact on public awareness of vitiligo: a Google-Trends® analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Lapostolle ◽  
Charles Durand ◽  
Lisa Weisslinger ◽  
Chloe Baker ◽  
Frédéric Adnet
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fashion Brand ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The internet has changed the world. Meanwhile, internet searches themselves are now also being used a scientific tool. Recently, a famous European fashion brand (Desigual®) published as publicity, the photograph of a young model with vitiligo. OBJECTIVE To study the impact of the public display of such a rare disease on related internet searches. METHODS To do this, we investigated the Google Trends according to previously recommended methods. We compared the number of internet searches using the word ‘’vitiligo’’ and the model’s name, before and after the publication of this picture. Google Trends gives the frequency of such requests on a scale from 0 to 100, 100 corresponding to the maximum number of requests during the period of interest. A six year period was studied; three years before and three years after the campaign (i.e. 2013 September 1st). RESULTS The median frequency of searches for ‘’vitiligo’’ according to Google Trends, worldwide, was 52 (46-61) during the reference period. After the campaign, the median number of internet requests significantly increased to 70 (59-79) (p<0.0001). Seasonal variability was observed in both periods. During the same periods, the median number of internet searches based on the name of the model significantly increased, from 0 (0-0) to 24 (15-31) (p<0,0001). CONCLUSIONS This advertising campaign featuring a model with vitiligo seems to have been associated with a significant increase in internet searches for this condition. Such campaigns could indeed help to incidentally ‘’popularize’’ such skin disorders, with better public understanding contributing to an improvement in patients’ quality of life. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable

The Impact of a Highly Publicized Celebrity Suicide on Suicide-Related Online Information Seeking

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Arendt ◽  
Sebastian Scherr
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Celebrity Suicide ◽  
Online Information Seeking ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: Research has already acknowledged the importance of the Internet in suicide prevention as search engines such as Google are increasingly used in seeking both helpful and harmful suicide-related information. Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of a highly publicized suicide by a Hollywood actor on suicide-related online information seeking. Method: We tested the impact of the highly publicized suicide of Robin Williams on volumes of suicide-related search queries. Results: Both harmful and helpful search terms increased immediately after the actor's suicide, with a substantial jump of harmful queries. Limitations: The study has limitations (e.g., possible validity threats of the query share measure, use of ambiguous search terms). Conclusion: Online suicide prevention efforts should try to increase online users' awareness of and motivation to seek help, for which Google's own helpline box could play an even more crucial role in the future.

Changing trends in quality of media reporting of suicide in the community following a celebrity suicide in India

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110096
Author(s):  
Vikas Menon ◽  
Sujita Kumar Kar ◽  
Ramdas Ransing ◽  
Ginni Sharma ◽  
Jigyansa Ipsita Pattnaik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online News ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Media Reporting ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Celebrity Suicide

Objective: Little is known about changes in quality of media reporting of suicide in the community following a celebrity suicide. Our objective was to compare trends in quality of media reporting of suicide, before and after the suicide of an Indian entertainment celebrity, against the World Health Organization suicide reporting guidelines. Method: Online news portals of English and local language newspapers, as well as television channels, were searched to identify relevant suicide-related news articles. Comparison of reporting characteristics before and after the celebrity suicide was performed using chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 3867 eligible news reports were retrieved. There was a significant increase in harmful reporting characteristics, such as reporting the name, age and gender of the deceased ( p < 0.001 for all comparisons), mentioning the location ( p < 0.001) and reason for suicide ( p = 0.04) and including photos of the deceased ( p = 0.002) following the celebrity suicide. Helpful reporting practices were less affected; there was a significant rise in inclusion of expert opinion ( p = 0.04) and mention of suicide-related warning signs ( p = 0.02). Conclusion: Following a celebrity suicide, significant changes in the quality of media reporting of suicide were noted with an increase in several potentially harmful reporting characteristics.

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