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Matthys M, Chambaere K, Beernaert K, Cohen J, Van Brussel L, Deforche B, Quintiens B, Deliens L, Dhollander N. What does the general public know about palliative care? A population-based survey. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2024:spcare-2023-004384. [PMID: 37699664 DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2023-004384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The need for public education on palliative care has been widely argued for. To develop effective educational strategies, a stronger evidence base is needed on what exactly is known and unknown about palliative care as well as what the differences are between subgroups. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey. Mail questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 4400 citizens (aged ≥16 years) within 4 municipalities in Flanders, Belgium. The Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS) was used to measure knowledge. Associations between knowledge and sociodemographics and various experiential factors were tested, as well as the congruence between actual and self-perceived knowledge scores. RESULTS Response was obtained from 2008 (45.6%) citizens. The mean PaCKS score was 7.87 (SD 3.41; range 0-13) with the highest proportion (84.7%) correctly answering that palliative care is not specifically for older adults and the lowest (32.1%) correctly answering that improving the ability to participate in daily life is a palliative care goal. Being aged between 30 and 59, non-religious, more highly educated, having professional healthcare experience and knowing palliative care through personal experience were significantly associated with higher knowledge, while sex and informal caregiving experience were not. 52.4% self-perceived their knowledge as lower than it actually was. CONCLUSIONS While the general public seems to be familiar with some basic concepts of palliative care, several key aspects remain unknown. Educational strategies, with suggested potential for community-based and experience-based approaches, may need to focus specifically on these aspects and not just on the broader palliative care concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Matthys
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kenneth Chambaere
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kim Beernaert
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Quintiens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Naomi Dhollander
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Salifu Y, Almack K, Caswell G. 'Out of the frying pan into the fire': a qualitative study of the impact on masculinity for men living with advanced prostate cancer. Palliat Care Soc Pract 2023; 17:26323524231176829. [PMID: 37266393 PMCID: PMC10230602 DOI: 10.1177/26323524231176829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have highlighted how advanced prostate cancer causes biographical disruption and presents challenges to masculine identities for men. This article draws on a wider study that focused on the experiences of men living with advanced prostate cancer and their caregivers. Although men's experience of advanced illness is not overlooked in the literature, only a small body of work has taken an in-depth look at men's experiences with advanced prostate cancer and their caregivers in a non-Westernised cultural and social context. Objective To explore how advanced prostate cancer impacts on men's masculine identity from the perspective of patients and their caregivers. Methods A qualitative study of men living with advanced prostate cancer (n = 23) and family caregivers (n = 23) in Ghana. We used the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) as the reporting guideline. Results The findings from this study highlight profound challenges for most men to their masculine identities, from both the treatment and the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer within a non-Westernised, patriarchal society. Four main themes were developed. These were the impact on masculinity in terms of: (1) physical changes, (2) sexual ability, (3) socio-economic roles and (4) expressing emotions. Changes in physical appearance, feeling belittled, having no active sexual life and the inability to continue acting as provider and protector of the family made some men describe their situation as one of moving out of the 'frying pan into the fire'. Conclusion This study revealed the impact of advanced prostate cancer on masculine identity. These narratives add a new dimension to what is already known about the impacts on men's masculine identities when dealing with advanced prostate cancer. This knowledge can help improve the care provided to men with advanced prostate cancer with emphasis on the cultures, beliefs and aspirations of these men and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathryn Almack
- Professor of Family Lives and Care, Centre for
Future Societies Research Communities, Young People and Family Lives Centre
for Research in Public Health and Community Care, School of Health and
Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Glenys Caswell
- Independent Social Researcher and Death Studies
Scholar, Nottigham, UK
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Ramos-Vera C, Krikorian A, Vallejos Saldarriaga J. Factors related to positive attitudes toward palliative care: Direct and indirect effects of self-care self-efficacy, knowledge, and beliefs. Palliat Support Care 2022; 21:1-7. [PMID: 35894093 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951522000864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward palliative care (PC) constitute barriers to its access. Few studies have focused on the intrinsic relationship between these variables, and none has examined the relationship between them and self-care self-efficacy. OBJECTIVE To examine the direct and indirect effects of self-care self-efficacy, knowledge, and beliefs on attitudes toward PC. METHODS A cross-sectional predictive study was conducted. Self-care self-efficacy, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about PC were analyzed using information from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, cycle 2, 2018). Data from 1,162 participants were considered. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to represent the statistical mediation model with latent and observable variables. RESULTS The structural model presents positive coefficients indicating that self-care self-efficacy significantly predicts knowledge (β = 0.127, p < 0.001) and beliefs (β = 0.078, p = 0.023). Similarly, knowledge is associated with attitudes (β = 0.179, p < 0.001) and beliefs (β = 0.213, p < 0.001). The beliefs measure is also significantly related to attitudes (β = 0.474, p < 0.001). In addition, this structural multiple mediation model shows optimal goodness-of-fit indices: χ2/df = 3.49, CFI = 0.983, TLI = 0.976, RMSEA = 0.046 [90% CI: 0.037-0.056], SRMR = 0.038. CONCLUSION Self-care self-efficacy is significantly associated with knowledge and beliefs about PC, which in turn are related to each other. Altogether, these variables predict positive attitudes toward PC. Understanding the relationship between these variables is relevant for targeting-specific populations and designing timely strategies to improve access to PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Ramos-Vera
- Research Area, School of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Peru
- Sociedad Peruana de Psicometría, Lima, Peru
| | - Alicia Krikorian
- Pain and Palliative Care Group, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia
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Cao M, Guan T, Han X, Shen B, Chao B, Liu Y. Impact of a health campaign on Chinese public awareness of stroke: evidence from internet search data. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e054463. [PMID: 34907069 PMCID: PMC8672014 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Health campaigns have the potential to improve public awareness, but their impact can be difficult to assess. Internet search data provide information concerning online health information-seeking behaviour in the population and may serve as a proxy for public awareness to evaluate health campaigns. This study aimed to measure the impact of World Stroke Day (WSD) in China using Baidu search data. METHODS Daily search index values (SIV) for the term 'stroke' were collected from January 2011 to December 2019 using the Baidu Index platform. We examined the mean difference in SIV between the 4 weeks surrounding WSD (period of interest) and the rest of the year (control period) for each year by t-test analysis. The mean difference between the period of interest and the control period was also calculated. The joinpoint regression model was used to analyse the trends of internet search activity 30 days before and after WSD for each year (2011-2019). Finally, the top and rising queries related to stroke during the week of the campaign in 2020 were summarised. RESULTS A significant mean increase in SIV of 418.5 (95% CI: 298.8 to 538.2) for the period of interest surrounding WSD was observed, 36.2% greater than the SIV during the control period (2011-2019). Short-term joinpoint analysis showed a significant increase in SIV 3 days before WSD, a peak on WSD and a decrease to the precampaign level 3 days after WSD. The rising related queries suggested that the public had increasing concerns about stroke warning signs, stroke prevention and stroke recovery during the campaign. CONCLUSIONS The WSD campaign increased internet search activity. These research techniques can be applied to evaluation of other health campaigns. Advancing understanding of public demand will enable tailoring of the campaign and strengthen health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Cao
- School of Health Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tianjia Guan
- School of Health Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyan Han
- Department of Medical Statistics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bingjie Shen
- School of Health Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Baohua Chao
- National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanli Liu
- School of Health Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Huemer M, Jahn-Kuch D, Hofmann G, Andritsch E, Farkas C, Schaupp W, Masel EK, Jost PJ, Pichler M. Trends and Patterns in the Public Awareness of Palliative Care, Euthanasia, and End-of-Life Decisions in 3 Central European Countries Using Big Data Analysis From Google: Retrospective Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e28635. [PMID: 34542419 PMCID: PMC8491122 DOI: 10.2196/28635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background End-of-life decisions, specifically the provision of euthanasia and assisted suicide services, challenge traditional medical and ethical principles. Austria and Germany have decided to liberalize their laws restricting assisted suicide, thus reigniting the debate about a meaningful framework in which the practice should be embedded. Evidence of the relevance of assisted suicide and euthanasia for the general population in Germany and Austria is limited. Objective The aim of this study is to examine whether the public awareness documented by search activities in the most frequently used search engine, Google, on the topics of palliative care, euthanasia, and advance health care directives changed with the implementation of palliative care services and new governmental regulations concerning end-of-life decisions. Methods We searched for policies, laws, and regulations promulgated or amended in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland between 2004 and 2020 and extracted data on the search volume for each search term topic from Google Trends as a surrogate of public awareness and interest. Annual averages were analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Results Important policy changes yielded significant changes in search trends for the investigated topics. The enactment of laws regulating advance health care directives coincided with a significant drop in the volume of searches for the topic of euthanasia in all 3 countries (Austria: −24.48%, P=.02; Germany: −14.95%, P<.001; Switzerland: −11.75%, P=.049). Interest in palliative care increased with the availability of care services and the implementation of laws and policies to promote palliative care (Austria: 22.69%, P=.01; Germany: 14.39, P<.001; Switzerland: 17.59%, P<.001). The search trends for advance health care directives showed mixed results. While interest remained steady in Austria within the study period, it increased by 3.66% (P<.001) in Switzerland and decreased by 2.85% (P<.001) in Germany. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that legal measures securing patients’ autonomy at the end of life may lower the search activities for topics related to euthanasia and assisted suicide. Palliative care may be a meaningful way to raise awareness of the different options for end-of-life care and to guide patients in their decision-making process regarding the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Huemer
- Division of Oncology with affiliated Unit of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Daniela Jahn-Kuch
- Division of Oncology with affiliated Unit of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Guenter Hofmann
- Division of Oncology with affiliated Unit of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Andritsch
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Clemens Farkas
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Walter Schaupp
- Institute of Moral Theology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Katharina Masel
- Clinical Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine I and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp J Jost
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Department of Internal Medicine III - Hematooncology, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Pichler
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Effenberger M, Kronbichler A, Bettac E, Grabherr F, Grander C, Adolph TE, Mayer G, Zoller H, Perco P, Tilg H. Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e21656. [PMID: 34402801 PMCID: PMC8408753 DOI: 10.2196/21656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met worldwide, and the need for LT is still increasing. The death rates on the waiting list remain too high. Objective It is, therefore, critical to raise awareness among the public and health care providers and in turn increasingly acquire donors. Methods We performed a Google Trends search using the search terms liver transplantation and liver transplant on October 15, 2020. On the basis of the resulting monthly data, the annual average Google Trends indices were calculated for the years 2004 to 2018. We not only investigated the trend worldwide but also used data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Spain, and Eurotransplant. Using pairwise Spearman correlations, Google Trends indices were examined over time and compared with the total number of liver transplants retrieved from the respective official websites of UNOS, the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes, and Eurotransplant. Results From 2004 to 2018, there was a significant decrease in the worldwide Google Trends index from 78.2 in 2004 to 20.5 in 2018 (–71.2%). This trend was more evident in UNOS than in the Eurotransplant group. In the same period, the number of transplanted livers increased worldwide. The waiting list mortality rate was 31% for Eurotransplant and 29% for UNOS. However, in Spain, where there are excellent awareness programs, the Google Trends index remained stable over the years with comparable, increasing LT numbers but a significantly lower waiting list mortality (15%). Conclusions Public awareness in LT has decreased significantly over the past two decades. Therefore, novel awareness programs should be initialized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Effenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Kronbichler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Erica Bettac
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, United States
| | - Felix Grabherr
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Grander
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Timon Erik Adolph
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gert Mayer
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heinz Zoller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Paul Perco
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Tilg
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Yang J, Zhang Y, Xiao Y, Shen S, Su M, Bai Y, Zhou J, Gong P. Using Internet Search Queries to Assess Public Awareness of the Healthy Cities Approach: A Case Study in Shenzhen, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18084264. [PMID: 33920543 PMCID: PMC8072553 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cities around the globe are embracing the Healthy Cities approach to address urban health challenges. Public awareness is vital for successfully deploying this approach but is rarely assessed. In this study, we used internet search queries to evaluate the public awareness of the Healthy Cities approach applied in Shenzhen, China. The overall situation at the city level and the intercity variations were both analyzed. Additionally, we explored the factors that might affect the internet search queries of the Healthy Cities approach. Our results showed that the public awareness of the approach in Shenzhen was low. There was a high intercity heterogeneity in terms of interest in the various components of the Healthy Cities approach. However, we did not find a significant effect of the selected demographic, environmental, and health factors on the search queries. Based on our findings, we recommend that the city raise public awareness of healthy cities and take actions tailored to health concerns in different city zones. Our study showed that internet search queries can be a valuable data source for assessing the public awareness of the Healthy Cities approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.X.); (Y.B.); (P.G.)
- Tsinghua Urban Institute, Beijing 100084, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-62787211
| | - Yutong Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.X.); (Y.B.); (P.G.)
| | - Yixiong Xiao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.X.); (Y.B.); (P.G.)
- Tsinghua Urban Institute, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shaoqing Shen
- Shenzhen Research Center of Digital City Engineering, Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resource Management, Shenzhen 518034, China;
| | - Mo Su
- School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China;
| | - Yuqi Bai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.X.); (Y.B.); (P.G.)
- Tsinghua Urban Institute, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jingbo Zhou
- Business Intelligence Lab, Baidu Research, Baidu Inc., Beijing 100193, China;
| | - Peng Gong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.X.); (Y.B.); (P.G.)
- Tsinghua Urban Institute, Beijing 100084, China
- Department of Earth Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Department of Geography, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Lacitignola D, Saccomandi G. Managing awareness can avoid hysteresis in disease spread: an application to coronavirus Covid-19. CHAOS, SOLITONS, AND FRACTALS 2021; 144:110739. [PMID: 33551579 PMCID: PMC7849502 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2021.110739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A SEIR-type model is investigated to evaluate the effects of awareness campaigns in the presence of factors that can induce overexposure to disease. We find that high levels of overexposure can drive system dynamics towards a backward phenomenology and that increasing people awareness through balanced and aware information can be crucial to avoid dangerous dynamical transitions as hysteresis or transient oscillations before disease eradication. Investigations in the time dependent regimes are provided to support the results. Google Trends data in the context of Covid19 are also used to stress how low levels of awareness, combined with high overexposure, can be related to recent episodes of epidemic resurgence in Europe. Our results suggest that the interplay between overexposure and awareness is a point that should not be underestimated both in the current and future management of the Covid19 emergency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Lacitignola
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e dell'Informazione, Università di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, via Di Biasio, I-03043 Cassino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Saccomandi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università di Perugia, Via Goffredo Duranti, 93, Perugia 06125, Italy
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A Google Trends Analysis: Change in internet searches related to cardiovascular disease during COVID-19 outbreak. COR ET VASA 2020. [DOI: 10.33678/cor.2020.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the association of public interest in coronavirus infections with the actual number of infected cases for selected countries across the globe. METHODS We performed a Google TrendsTM search for "Coronavirus" and compared Relative Search Volumes (RSV) indices to the number of reported COVID-19 cases by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) using time-lag correlation analysis. RESULTS Worldwide public interest in Coronavirus reached its first peak end of January when numbers of newly infected patients started to increase exponentially in China. The worldwide Google TrendsTM index reached its peak on the 12th of March 2020 at a time when numbers of infected patients started to increase in Europe and COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. At this time the general interest in China but also the Republic of Korea has already been significantly decreased as compared to end of January. Correlations between RSV indices and number of new COVID-19 cases were observed across all investigated countries with highest correlations observed with a time lag of -11.5 days, i.e. highest interest in coronavirus observed 11.5 days before the peak of newly infected cases. This pattern was very consistent across European countries but also holds true for the US. In Brazil and Australia, highest correlations were observed with a time lag of -7 days. In Egypt the highest correlation is given with a time lag of 0, potentially indicating that in this country, numbers of newly infected patients will increase exponentially within the course of April. CONCLUSIONS Public interest indicated by RSV indices can help to monitor the progression of an outbreak such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Public interest is on average highest 11.5 days before the peak of newly infected cases.
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Effenberger M, Kronbichler A, Shin JI, Mayer G, Tilg H, Perco P. Association of the COVID-19 pandemic with Internet Search Volumes: A Google Trends TM Analysis. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 95:192-197. [PMID: 32305520 PMCID: PMC7162745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the association of public interest in coronavirus infections with the actual number of infected cases for selected countries across the globe. METHODS We performed a Google TrendsTM search for "Coronavirus" and compared Relative Search Volumes (RSV) indices to the number of reported COVID-19 cases by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) using time-lag correlation analysis. RESULTS Worldwide public interest in Coronavirus reached its first peak end of January when numbers of newly infected patients started to increase exponentially in China. The worldwide Google TrendsTM index reached its peak on the 12th of March 2020 at a time when numbers of infected patients started to increase in Europe and COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. At this time the general interest in China but also the Republic of Korea has already been significantly decreased as compared to end of January. Correlations between RSV indices and number of new COVID-19 cases were observed across all investigated countries with highest correlations observed with a time lag of -11.5 days, i.e. highest interest in coronavirus observed 11.5 days before the peak of newly infected cases. This pattern was very consistent across European countries but also holds true for the US. In Brazil and Australia, highest correlations were observed with a time lag of -7 days. In Egypt the highest correlation is given with a time lag of 0, potentially indicating that in this country, numbers of newly infected patients will increase exponentially within the course of April. CONCLUSIONS Public interest indicated by RSV indices can help to monitor the progression of an outbreak such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Public interest is on average highest 11.5 days before the peak of newly infected cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Effenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine I (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Kronbichler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Severance Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Kidney Disease Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gert Mayer
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Tilg
- Department of Internal Medicine I (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Paul Perco
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Google Medical Update: Why Is the Search Engine Decreasing Visibility of Health and Medical Information Websites? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041160. [PMID: 32059576 PMCID: PMC7068473 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Google search engine answers many health and medical information queries every day. People have become used to searching for this type of information. This paper presents a study which examined the visibility of health and medical information websites. The purpose of this study was to find out why Google is decreasing the visibility of such websites and how to measure this decrease. Since August 2018, Google has been more rigorously rating these websites, since they can potentially impact people’s health. The method of the study was to collect data about the visibility of health and medical information websites in sequential time snapshots. Visibility consists of combined data of unique keywords, positions, and URL results. The sample under study was made up of 21 websites selected from 10 European countries. The findings reveal that in sequential time snapshots, search visibility decreased. The decrease was not dependent on the country or the language. The main reason why Google is decreasing the visibility of such websites is that they do not meet high ranking criteria.
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Telfer S, Obradovich N. Local weather is associated with rates of online searches for musculoskeletal pain symptoms. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181266. [PMID: 28792953 PMCID: PMC5549896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Weather conditions are commonly believed to influence musculoskeletal pain, however the evidence for this is mixed. This study aimed to examine the relationship between local meteorological conditions and online search trends for terms related to knee pain, hip pain, and arthritis. Five years of relative online search volumes for these terms were obtained for the 50 most populous cities in the contiguous United States, along with corresponding local weather data for temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and precipitation. Methods from the climate econometrics literature were used to assess the casual impact of these meteorological variables on the relative volumes of searches for pain. For temperatures between -5°C and 30°C, search volumes for hip pain increased by 12 index points, and knee pain increased by 18 index points. Precipitation had a negative effect on search volumes for these terms. At temperatures >30°C, search volumes for arthritis related pain decreased by 7 index points. These patterns were not seen for pain searches unrelated to the musculoskeletal system. In summary, selected local weather conditions are significantly associated with online search volumes for specific musculoskeletal pain symptoms. We believe the predominate driver for this to be the relative changes in physical activity levels associated with meteorological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Telfer
- Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Nick Obradovich
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States of America
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States of America
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