Interest in dentistry in early months of the COVID-19 global pandemic: A Google Trends approach

Dental Contact Lenses: An Ecological Study of Online Searches in Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate trends in searches for "dental contact lenses" on Google Trends and their association with sociodemographic variables of Brazilian states.

METHODS

This ecological study utilised Google Trends to analyse search frequencies for "dental contact lenses" in Brazilian states over 5 years. Data were collected from two categories: "health" and "all categories". Exploratory variables included total population, per capita income, Gini index, illiteracy rate, use of internet, number of dentists, number of specialists in Periodontology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Prosthesis, number of dental schools, and healthcare units. Pearson correlations and time series analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

São Paulo, Santa Catarina, the Federal District, and Tocantins exhibited the highest search frequencies in the "Health" category, while Minas Gerais had the highest search when considering all categories. Some states in the Northeast demonstrated the lowest search frequencies in both categories. Significant and positive correlations were observed between the outcome, when using all categories, and the following variables: total population (r = 0.500), per capita income (r = 0.468), use of internet (r = 0.522), higher education (r = 0.686), and number of entists (r = 0.806). Inverse correlations were detected with Gini index (r = -0.467), illiteracy rate (r = -0.734), number of public dental schools (r = -0.430), and primary health units (r = -0.472). A similar pattern of results was observed for the health category across most exploratory variables. Both analyses revealed a pattern of seasonality (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Higher socio-economic status and concentrations of dental professionals in the Brazilian states resulted in higher searches for "dental contact lenses."

Transforming health science libraries around the globe: The impact of technology

Health science libraries have been using information technology since the late 1960s, shaping both the profession and the mission of these libraries. To explore the impact of technology, a series of articles has been commissioned for the HILJ Regular Feature, International Perspectives and Initiatives. This editorial sets the scene for this series of articles, which starts in this issue. These articles, written by health science librarians from around the globe, will explore the impact of technology on the way health science libraries provide information in the digital age. Some articles will look at national trends and others will focus on a particular library. A key theme is how technology is being used to support the mission of health science libraries and whether technology has altered that mission. This editorial provides a brief overview of the technologies libraries have adopted, from the 1970s to the present day. From this, it is clear that information technology has transformed the way health information is collected, catalogued, and disseminated to users. And it is certain that in the coming decade new technologies will be incorporated into health science libraries, which will pose challenges for both users and librarians. However, librarians will continue to find ways to adapt and use these tools to meet the needs of their users.