The impact of monthly campaigns and other high-profile media coverage on public interest in 13 malignancies: a Google Trends analysis

A surge of interest: Analysing the increased public interest in lipedema using google trends

AimThis study aimed to monitor public interest in information related to Lipedema and examine potential temporal, seasonal, and income-related trends that may impact public interest.Material - MethodsA dataset was created using the Google Trends tool by inputting the keyword "Lipedema" to obtain the relative search volume (RSV) from 2004 to the present in the United States (US). To examine potential income-related disparities in public interest in Lipedema across the US, RSV values were recorded in the five states with the highest and the lowest median income (Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington and Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico, Kentucky, respectively).ResultsPublic interest in Lipedema increased significantly over time (R2 = 0.693, p < .001 for the linear trend; R2 = 0.880, p < .001 for the quadratic trend). There were no significant differences between the RSV values between the month of the year and the season of the year (p = 1.000 and p = .859, respectively). RSV values of the five highest-income and low-income states showed significant increases (R2 = 0.333, p < .001, and R2 = 0.195, p < .001, respectively) More rapid growth in interest in Lipedema in states with high income compared to the states with low income (p < .001).ConclusionPublic interest in Lipedema is increasing in both high-income and low-income states. States with higher incomes are more interested. Searches for lipedema are expected to become more frequent, leading to a rising demand for comprehensive education in medical schools and clinician training programs. In addition, there will also be a need for easily accessible, high-quality information resources.

Impact of World Cerebral Palsy Day on Public Interest in Brazil: Evidence from Internet Search Data

AIM

This study investigated the impact of the World Cerebral Palsy Day (WCPD) campaign on the public interest using Google Trends Analysis data in Brazil.

METHODS

Google Trends was used to collect Relative Search Volume (RSV) data for "cerebral palsy" from 2004 to 2011 (control years) and 2012 to 2022 (WCPD years). RSV during the 4 weeks around WCPD (period of interest) was compared with the rest of the year (control period) in each timeframe. Regional RSV, search queries, and main topics were also investigated.

RESULTS

RSV increased by 62.22% from pre-campaign to campaign period. During the WCPD years, a 21.36% RSV increase occurred in campaign weeks, with an average difference of 12.16 (95% CI: 1.74, 22.58); notably in in the last five years in the southeast 9.47 (95% CI: 2.93, 16.01) and south 8.66 (95% CI: 1.66, 15.66) macro-regions.

CONCLUSION

The campaign has fulfilled its role, but targeting more vulnerable areas could further amplify its impact.

US Public Interest in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Following Jimmy Buffett's Death and Implications for Continued Health Advocacy: Infodemiology Study of Google Trends

Unlabelled

Through Jimmy Buffett's unfortunate battle with lymphoma originating from Merkel cell carcinoma and subsequent media coverage of his death, public interest in skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, and the health effects of sunlight exposure increased, as evidenced by our results.

Head and Neck Cancer in Pan-American Notable People: An International Survey

Background: The study of notable people as advocates for raising cancer awareness began in the latter decades of the 20th century. This research aimed to identify Pan-American notable people with head and neck cancer (HNC) and to explore senior health professionals' perspectives on communicating stories of notable patients with HNC to promote prevention. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire designed in REDCap and administered to 32 senior health professionals with long-standing academic and clinical backgrounds in HNC. In addition, a structured literature review was performed on PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, and gray literature. Results: 18 notable figures were successfully identified from the survey, and 24 from the literature review. These individuals came from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, and were recognized primarily for their performances as actors, artists, musicians, and athletes. The professionals' outlooks were positive, with 31 (96.9%) agreeing that disseminating these stories can contribute to reducing risk behaviors. Furthermore, all participants (100%) agreed that such stories can promote early detection of HNC, primarily through social media, followed by the internet, and television. Conclusions: The study identified notable individuals and gathered positive perspectives from professionals. Our results suggest that notable people could serve as potential advocates for HNC prevention. Further research is warranted to explore the potential of this prevention strategy.

The evolution of public attention in acute kidney injury and continuous renal replacement therapy: trends analysis from 2004 to 2024

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and the need for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) are critically important health concerns. This study analyzes global and regional Internet search queries to understand public attention in AKI and CRRT over time.

Methods

We used Google Trends™ to analyze search queries for AKI and CRRT from January 2004 to March 2024. The study examined global trends and detailed insights from the United States, including state-by-state breakdowns. We identified patterns, peaks of attention, and temporal trends in public attention, comparing regional variations across the US and top-ranking countries worldwide.

Results

Global attention in AKI peaked in October 2022, with Portugal, Zambia, and Spain showing the highest regional attention. Within the United States, peak attention was in February 2008. Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were the top states that paid attention to AKI. Attention in CRRT peaked globally in March 2024. South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have led the global attention to CRRT. In the United States, peak attention was in April 2020. West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky showed the highest state-specific attention in CRRT.

Conclusions

This study reveals significant temporal and geographical variations in online search patterns for AKI and CRRT, suggesting evolving public attention to these critical health issues. This knowledge can guide the development of targeted public health initiatives, enhance medical education efforts, and help healthcare systems tailor their approach to improving awareness and outcomes in kidney health across diverse populations.

Google Trends-Assisted Analysis of the Readability, Accountability, and Accessibility of Online Patient Education Materials for the Treatment of AMD After US FDA Approval of Pegcetacoplan

Purpose: To evaluate the readability, accountability, accessibility, and source of online patient education materials for treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to quantify public interest in Syfovre and geographic atrophy after US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Methods: Websites were classified into 4 categories by information source. Readability was assessed using 5 validated readability indices. Accountability was assessed using 4 benchmarks of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Accessibility was evaluated using 3 established criteria. The Google Trends tool was used to evaluate temporal trends in public interest in "Syfovre" and "geographic atrophy" in the months after FDA approval. Results: Of 100 websites analyzed, 22% were written below the recommended sixth-grade reading level. The mean (±SD) grade level of analyzed articles was 9.76 ± 3.35. Websites averaged 1.40 ± 1.39 (of 4) JAMA accountability metrics. The majority of articles (67%) were from private practice/independent organizations. A significant increase in the public interest in the terms "Syfovre" and "geographic atrophy" after FDA approval was found with the Google Trends tool (P < .001). Conclusions: Patient education materials related to AMD treatment are often written at inappropriate reading levels and lack established accountability and accessibility metrics. Articles from national organizations ranked highest on accessibility metrics but were less visible on a Google search, suggesting the need for visibility-enhancing measures. Patient education materials related to the term "Syfovre" had the highest average reading level and low accountability, suggesting the need to modify resources to best address the needs of an increasingly curious public.

Using online search activity for earlier detection of gynaecological malignancy

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal and endometrial cancer the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, yet neither have a screening program in place to facilitate early disease detection. The aim is to evaluate whether online search data can be used to differentiate between individuals with malignant and benign gynaecological diagnoses.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study evaluating online search data in symptomatic individuals (Google user) referred from primary care (GP) with a suspected cancer to a London Hospital (UK) between December 2020 and June 2022. Informed written consent was obtained and online search data was extracted via Google takeout and anonymised. A health filter was applied to extract health-related terms for 24 months prior to GP referral. A predictive model (outcome: malignancy) was developed using (1) search queries (terms model) and (2) categorised search queries (categories model). Area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to evaluate model performance. 844 women were approached, 652 were eligible to participate and 392 were recruited. Of those recruited, 108 did not complete enrollment, 12 withdrew and 37 were excluded as they did not track Google searches or had an empty search history, leaving a cohort of 235.

RESULTS

The cohort had a median age of 53 years old (range 20-81) and a malignancy rate of 26.0%. There was a difference in online search data between those with a benign and malignant diagnosis, noted as early as 360 days in advance of GP referral, when search queries were used directly, but only 60 days in advance, when queries were divided into health categories. A model using online search data from patients (n = 153) who performed health-related search and corrected for sample size, achieved its highest sample-corrected AUC of 0.82, 60 days prior to GP referral.

CONCLUSIONS

Online search data appears to be different between individuals with malignant and benign gynaecological conditions, with a signal observed in advance of GP referral date. Online search data needs to be evaluated in a larger dataset to determine its value as an early disease detection tool and whether its use leads to improved clinical outcomes.

U.S. Newspaper Coverage of Lung Cancer Screening From 2010 to 2022

BACKGROUND. Newspapers are an important source of information for the public about low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening (LCS) and may influence public perception and knowledge of this important cancer screening service. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the volume, content, and other characteristics of articles pertaining to LCS that have been published in U.S. newspapers. METHODS. The ProQuest U.S. Newsstream database was searched for U.S. newspaper articles referring to LCS published between January 1, 2010 (the year of publication of the National Lung Screening Trial results), and March 28, 2022. Search terms included "lung cancer screening(s)," "lung screening(s)," "low dose screening(s)," and "LDCT." Search results were reviewed to identify those articles mentioning LCS. Characteristics of included articles and originating newspapers were extracted. Articles were divided among nine readers, who independently assessed article sentiment regarding LCS and additional article content using a standardized form. RESULTS. The final analysis included 859 articles, comprising 816 nonsyndicated articles published in a single newspaper and 43 syndicated articles published in multiple newspapers. Sentiment regarding LCS was positive in 76% (651/859) of articles, neutral in 21% (184/859), and negative in 3% (24/859). Frequency of positive sentiment was lowest (61%) for articles published from 2010 to 2012; frequency of negative sentiment was highest (8%) for articles published in newspapers in the highest quartile for weekly circulation. LCS enrollment criteria were mentioned in 52% of articles, smoking cessation programs in 28%, need for annual CT in 27%, and shared decision-making in 4%. Cost or insurance coverage for LCS was mentioned in 33% in articles. A total of 64% of articles mentioned at least one benefit of LCS (most commonly early detection or possible cure of lung cancer), and 23% mentioned at least one harm (most commonly false-positives). A total of 9% of articles interviewed or mentioned a radiologist. CONCLUSION. The sentiment of U.S. newspaper articles covering LCS from 2010 to 2022 was overall positive. However, certain key elements of LCS were infrequently mentioned. CLINICAL IMPACT. The findings highlight areas for potential improvement of LCS media coverage; radiologists have an opportunity to take a more active role in this coverage.

Reddit and Google Activity Related to Non-COVID Epidemic Diseases Surged at Start of COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Resources such as Google Trends and Reddit provide opportunities to gauge real-time popular interest in public health issues. Despite the potential for these publicly available and free resources to help optimize public health campaigns, utilization for this purpose has been limited.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether early public awareness of COVID-19 correlated with elevated public interest in other infectious diseases of public health importance.

METHODS

Google Trends search data and Reddit comment data were analyzed from 2018 through 2020 for the frequency of keywords "Chikungunya", "Ebola", "H1N1", "MERS", "SARS", and "Zika", six highly publicized epidemic diseases in recent decades. After collecting Google Trends relative popularity scores for each of these six terms, unpaired T-tests were used to compare the 2020 weekly scores for each term to its average level over the 3-year study period. The number of Reddit comments per month with each of these six terms was collected and then adjusted for total estimated Reddit monthly comment volume to derive a measure of relative usage, analogous to the Google Trends popularity score. The relative monthly incidence of comments with each search term was then compared to the corresponding search term's pre-COVID monthly comment data, again using unpaired T-tests. P-value cutoffs for statistical significance were determined a priori with a Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS

Google Trends and Reddit data both demonstrate large and statistically significant increases in the usage of each evaluated disease term through at least the initial months of the pandemic. Google searches and Reddit comments that included any of the evaluated infectious disease search terms rose significantly in the first months of 2020 above their baseline usage, all peaking in March 2020. Google searches for "SARS" and "MERS" remained elevated for the entirety of the 2020 calendar year, as did Reddit comments with the words "Ebola", "H1N1", "MERS" and "SARS" (P<.001, for each weekly or monthly comparison, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Google Trends and Reddit can readily be used to evaluate real-time general interest levels in public health related topics, providing a tool to better time and direct public health initiatives that require a receptive target audience. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic correlated with increased public interest in other epidemic infectious diseases. We have demonstrated that for six distinct infectious causes of epidemics over the last two decades, public interest rose substantially and rapidly with the outbreak of COVID-19. Our data suggests that for at least several months after the initial outbreak, the public may have been particularly receptive to dialogue on these topics. Public health officials should consider utilizing Google Trends and social media data to identify to patterns of engagement with public health topics in real-time, and to optimize timing of public health campaigns.

CLINICALTRIAL

The use of Google Trends and Twitter data as a tool for evaluating public interest in hyaluronic acid eyelid filler

Background

Google Trends and the Twitter Academic Research Product Tract (TARPT) are free, online tools that can be used to evaluate public interest in plastic surgery procedures.

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between online public interest in hyaluronic acid eyelid filler on two popular web platforms (Google and Twitter) and hyaluronic acid filler procedure volumes in the United States.

Methods

The Google Trends database and the TARPT tool were used to calculate the number of annual Google searches and Twitter tweets, respectively, related to 10 search terms associated with hyaluronic acid eyelid filler injections from January 2010 to December 2020. Annual procedure volumes for hyaluronic acid filler injections were obtained from the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS). Univariate linear regression was used to correlate Google searches to ASPS procedure volumes and Twitter tweet volumes to ASPS procedure volumes.

Results

Significant positive correlations were found between Google Trends data and ASPS procedure volumes for 8/10 search terms and between Twitter tweet volumes and ASPS procedure volumes for 6/10 search terms, respectively. Online public interest in eyelid filler related search terms increased significantly over time according to an exponential model (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

We observed statistically significant positive associations between public interest related to eyelid filler on two online platforms, Google and Twitter, and hyaluronic acid soft-tissue filler procedure volumes. The Google Trends and TARPT databases represent free information sources for surgeons that may be used to inform marketing and advertising decisions and to anticipate patient inquiries during the patient encounter.

Relevance for Patients

Information provided by the Google Trends and TARPT tools can be used by surgeons to (1) inform marketing and advertising strategies and (2) gain insight into which procedures patients are researching during a given time period, preparing them to best address the evolving needs of patients.

The Readability and Accountability of Online Patient Education Materials Related to Common Oculoplastics Diagnoses and Treatments

PURPOSE

To assess the readability and accountability of online patient education materials related to oculoplastic diagnoses and treatments, and to determine the source of information encountered by patients searches.

METHODS

We conducted a Google search for 20 search terms related to common oculoplastic diagnoses and treatments and analyzed the first 10 patient education websites populated for each term. Readability was assessed using four validated measures: Gunning Fog Index, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, and New Dale-Chall Readability. Accountability was assessed using 4 JAMA benchmarks on a scale of 0-4, with one point awarded for each of the following accountability criteria provided on the website: (1) including all authors and their relevant credentials (2) listing references (3) providing disclosures and (4) providing date of last update.

RESULTS

The average grade level of 200 websites analyzed was 10.89, with 29% written at less than the 6^th grade reading level recommended by the American Medical Association. The source of online information was most frequently educational institutions (36%) and private practices (34%), with fewer online patient education materials from national organizations (18%) and crowdsourced websites (12%). There were no significant differences in readability when comparing searches related to oculoplastics diagnoses versus treatments. Websites averaged 0.91 out of a maximum of 4 recommended accountability criteria, reflecting low overall accountability.

CONCLUSIONS

Online education resources encountered by patients are often written at inappropriate reading levels and demonstrate low accountability. Online patient education materials are most frequently maintained by educational institutions and private practices, with fewer articles from national organizations. Revision of online materials may be necessary to improve health literacy among oculoplastic patients.

Does Pink October really impact breast cancer screening?

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Pink October Campaign on the increase in mammographic screening in Brazil.

Study design

Ecological observational study, based on retrospective data.

Methods

Brazilian national screening database (DATASUS/SISMAMA/Information System on Breast Cancer) was used as a data source and is publicly available for download and analysis. We report screening numbers and outcome rates from January 2017 to December 2021 comparing statistically (ANOVA test, post-Tukey test), age groups, regions of Brazil, and the four quarters of the year.

Results

During the study period, the average number of exams performed monthly over the five years was 137,400.117. An increase in the number of mammograms performed in October was identified, as well as in the two following months, respectively 33%, 39%, and 22%, with statistical significance (p = 0.000) in relation to the three quarters of the year. In addition, in the other months, we found values below the monthly average. Statistical difference was not found in the increase in mammograms considering age groups (p = 0.5) and different regions of the country (p = 0.6).

Conclusions

This study showed an increase in mammographic screening in the three months following the Pink October Campaign, so we should intensify similar actions throughout the year and not just in October.

Impact of cancer awareness campaigns in Peru: a 5-year Google Trends analysis

Background

The aim of this research was to characterise the interest on the most frequent cancers in Peru through Google Trends, its geographic and temporal relationship with massive awareness campaigns.

Methods

A temporal trends analysis for the last 5 years was carried out, comparing the Relative Search Volume (RSV) with the dates of mass cancer awareness campaigns in Peru. Google Trends application was used to evaluate the interest in the topics: breast, prostate, cervical stomach and colorectal cancer between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020, expressed in RSV. The annual RSV for each neoplasm was compared, as well as its annual variation using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between the RSV and the estimated incidence for each province was measured using the Spearman test.

Results

The topics with the highest RSV were breast (median: 20, range: 6-100) and prostate cancer (median: 28, range: 9-48). The topic 'breast cancer' showed a cyclical punctual increase in October, its awareness month. Searches for cervical, stomach and colorectal cancer were smaller and did not show peaks of interest. It was observed that the RSV was variable when compared with previous years (p < 0.05 for all the evaluated topics). Geographically, different provincial configurations of interest were observed according to neoplasia. When correlating the RSV with the incidence by province, a non-significant positive correlation (p > 0.05) was found for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

This study suggests a positive temporal correlation between RSV and awareness cancer campaigns in Peru specially to breast cancer and, to a lesser extent, prostate cancer. Significant variations of interest were demonstrated for each neoplasm among the evaluated years. No significant correlation was found between the incidence rate and the average RSV among Peruvian provinces.

Insights and Strategies to Revive Brachytherapy Using Social Media: A Google Trends Analysis

Introduction: The utilization and public awareness of brachytherapy are both declining. Social media has an increasing presence in health promotions. As regards cancer care, social media has been successfully used as a platform for information dissemination, psychosocial support, and patient engagement and empowerment.

Methods and materials: Using Google Trends (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA), we analyzed the impacts on the public interest of three brachytherapy-related social media campaigns/publicity events and compared and contrasted them with three other campaigns/publicity events. We used descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) to describe the search results, independent t-tests to compare means before and after campaigns/announcements for short-term effects, and one-way ANOVA (or Kruskal-Wallis test when appropriate) to compare mean values across distinct time periods for long-term effects.

Results: We identified three major types of social media campaigns/events: those that have a short-term impact but little long-term impact, those that have both short-term and long-term impacts, and those with little short-term or long-term impact. We examined campaigns with significant and lasting impacts and noticed that they tend to be celebrity-related/celebrity-endorsed, focused on sharing personal experiences, and occur with regular frequency.

Conclusions: To increase public awareness of brachytherapy, the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) can consider tie-ins with events and people with high search traffic (such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month), having celebrities/influencers who were treated with brachytherapy to provide testimonials, encouraging patient engagement and sharing of their experiences with brachytherapy on social media, and setting up recurring brachytherapy publicity events.

Global interest in vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Google Trends

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines have become available; now, everyone has the opportunity to get vaccinated. We used Google Trends (GT) data to assess the global public interest in COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. For the analysis, a period of 17 months was chosen (from Jan 19, 2020, to Jul 04, 2021). Interest in user queries was tracked by keywords (corona vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine development, Sputnik v, Pfizer vaccine, AstraZeneca vaccine, etc.). The geographic analysis of queries was also carried out. The interest of users in the vaccine is significantly increasing. It is focused on the side effects of vaccines, and users pay attention to vaccines' developers from different countries. The correlation between the scientific publications devoted to vaccine development and such requests of users on the internet is absent. This study shows that internet search patterns can be used to gauge public attitudes towards coronavirus vaccination. Safety concerns consistently high follow an interest in vaccine side effects. This data can be used to track and predict attitudes towards vaccination of populations from COVID-19 in different countries before global vaccination becomes available to help mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic.

Seasonal variations in the diagnosis of the top 10 cancers in Korea: A nationwide population-based study using a common data model

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A better understanding of seasonal variations in cancer diagnosis may be the first step toward optimal resource distribution in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP). This study aimed to identify seasonal variations in the diagnosis of the top 10 major cancers in Korea.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study in participants aged ≥ 20 years between 2012 and 2016 from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment-National Patient Sample database, previously converted to a common data model. We assessed the overall seasonal variations in the 10 major cancers.

RESULTS

We analyzed the following top 10 cancers: stomach (n = 3435), colorectal (n = 5368), liver (n = 7605), pancreatic (n = 2946), gallbladder (n = 899), lung (n = 1598), prostate (n = 2897), thyroid (n = 1966), breast (n = 1313), and kidney (n = 668) cancers. All cancers showed similar seasonal variations in diagnosis, with a significant winter peak. A winter peak in diagnosis was observed for NCSP-covered cancers, such as stomach, colon, liver, and breast cancers, as well as other cancers not covered by the NCSP. The winter peak for cancer diagnosis was the highest for breast cancer (74.4%) followed by thyroid (51.0%) and stomach cancers, whereas it was the lowest for pancreatic cancer followed by prostate and colorectal cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant seasonal variations were found in the diagnosis of the top 10 major cancers, with a winter peak, which may be explained by the participants' behavior pattern with respect to the NCSP. Our findings suggest that trading off of NCSP healthcare resources between winter and other seasons may be beneficial.

Online public interest in common malignancies and cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States in March 2020. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services subsequently released recommendations that health-care facilities temporarily delay elective surgeries and non-essential medical procedures. Disruptions to medical care significantly impacted cancer patients, with cancer screenings halted and nonurgent cancer surgeries postponed as health-care facilities shifted resources toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it has been reported that cancer screening rates decreased dramatically in the United States in 2020, it is unclear whether this trend was driven by factors related to public interest in cancer and/or cancer screening as opposed to other factors such as clinical backlogs, pandemic-related policies, and/or resource limitations. The purpose of this study was to use the Google Trends tool to evaluate public interest in six common malignancies and four common cancer screening methods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We used the Google Trends tool to quantify public interest in six different malignancies (Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, and Cervical Cancer) and four cancer screening methods (Pap Smear, Lung Cancer Screening, Mammogram, and Colonoscopy) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Welch's t-tests were used to compare monthly search volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) to the 4 years before the pandemic (2016 - 2019) for all ten search terms included in our study. We used Benjamini-Hochberg to adjust raw p values to account for multiple statistical comparisons. The level of statistical significance was defined by choosing a false discovery rate of 0.05.

RESULTS

Our results indicate significantly reduced interest in all malignancies studied at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public interest in ['Breast Cancer'], ['Colon Cancer'], ['Lung Cancer'], ['Thyroid Cancer'], and ['Cervical Cancer'] significantly decreased in the months of March, April, May, and June 2020 when compared with public interest in 2016-2019. Public interest in cancer screening methods such as ['Pap Smear'], ['Lung Cancer Screening'], ['Mammogram'], and ['Colonoscopy'] significantly deceased in the months of April and May compared to 2016 - 2019 values. However, decreased public interest in cancer screening methods was temporary, with Google search volumes returning to pre-pandemic levels in June 2020 - December 2020.

CONCLUSION

There was significantly reduced public interest in both common malignancies and cancer screening methods at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. However, after an initial decline, public interest as indicated by Google search volumes quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels in the second half of the calendar year 2020. In addition, trends in public interest in cancer screening as indicated by Google search volumes aligned with cancer screening uptake rates in the United States during the study period. This finding suggests that Google Trends may serve as an effective tool in gauging the public's interest in cancer and/or cancer screenings in the United States, which makes it a valuable resource that can be used to inform decisions aimed at improving cancer screening rates in the future.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

The Google Trends tool can be used to measure public interest in various malignancies and their associated screening methods. Google Trends data may be used to inform measures aimed at improving cancer screening uptake.

Etiologies of Melanoma Development and Prevention Measures: A Review of the Current Evidence

Simple Summary

Melanoma constitutes a major public health risk, with the rates of diagnosis increasing on a yearly basis. Monitoring for risk factors and preventing dangerous behaviors that increase melanoma risk, such as tanning, are important measures for melanoma prevention. Additionally, assessing the effectiveness of various methods to prevent sun exposure and sunburns—which can lead to melanoma—is important to help identify ways to reduce the development of melanoma. We summarize the recent evidence regarding the heritable and behavioral risks underlying melanoma, as well as the current methods used to reduce the risk of developing melanoma and to improve the diagnosis of this disease.

Abstract

(1) Melanoma is the most aggressive dermatologic malignancy, with an estimated 106,110 new cases to be diagnosed in 2021. The annual incidence rates continue to climb, which underscores the critical importance of improving the methods to prevent this disease. The interventions to assist with melanoma prevention vary and typically include measures such as UV avoidance and the use of protective clothing, sunscreen, and other chemopreventive agents. However, the evidence is mixed surrounding the use of these and other interventions. This review discusses the heritable etiologies underlying melanoma development before delving into the data surrounding the preventive methods highlighted above. (2) A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify the clinical trials, observational studies, and meta-analyses pertinent to melanoma prevention and incidence. Online resources were queried to identify epidemiologic and clinical trial information. (3) Evidence exists to support population-wide screening programs, the proper use of sunscreen, and community-targeted measures in the prevention of melanoma. Clinical evidence for the majority of the proposed preventive chemotherapeutics is presently minimal but continues to evolve. (4) Further study of these chemotherapeutics, as well as improvement of techniques in artificial intelligence and imaging techniques for melanoma screening, is warranted for continued improvement of melanoma prevention.

Using big data to gauge effectiveness of breast cancer awareness month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) has been used for decades to increase awareness and screening for breast cancer, but its geographic reach and effectiveness is difficult to judge. Using Internet Search Interest (ISI) could allow for better evaluation of BCAM effects. Using Google Trends, we evaluated the ISI for "breast cancer" and "mammogram" for each state and metropolitan area from 2006 to 2019. The ISI represents population level Google internet searches relative to the highest number of searches for the United States over a given period, with a max number of 100. The ISI for each term in October (BCAM) was compared against all other months during this period, across states and across major metropolitan regions. ISI was 2.34 times higher (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.10-2.61, P < .001) in BCAM than the average for all other months combined. Geographically categorized data revealed that there were significant differences in the ISI for "breast cancer" and for "mammogram" among the 50 states, and among major metropolitan areas (P < .001for each). ISI suggests that BCAM is effective at increasing breast cancer related internet searches, with significant heterogeneity across states and metro areas. Google Trends is a publicly available free tool that can be used to assess penetrance of awareness campaigns in a time sensitive and location specific manner for future targeting of populations with low breast cancer awareness. Future research is needed to assess relationships between preventive outcomes and ISI scores.

Google trends as a tool for evaluating public interest in total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are approximately 1 million total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures performed annually in the United States. With this number projected to increase, it is vital for orthopedic surgeons and health-care systems to properly anticipate healthcare utilization related to TKA and THA. Google Trends (GT) is a free, open source tool that provides customizable analysis of search terms entered into the Google search engine. We aim to explore the relationship between public interest in TKA and THA as determined by GT data and volume of TKA and THA procedures.

METHODS

GT data were compiled for ten search terms related to TKA and ten search terms related to THA from January 2009 to December 2017. Annual case volumes for TKA/THA procedures were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample from 2009 to 2017. Trend analysis was performed using univariate linear regression of GT data and TKA/THA case volumes.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant positive correlation between GT data and procedure volume for 14 of the 20 search terms studied. Seven TKA-related search terms with a positive correlation to procedure volumes include "total knee replacement," "knee replacement," "knee osteoarthritis," "knee ache," "knee swelling," "knee stiffness," and "chronic knee pain." Seven THA-related search terms with a positive correlation to procedure volumes include "hip arthroplasty," "total hip replacement," "hip replacement," "hip osteoarthritis," "hip ache," "hip swelling," and "chronic hip pain."

CONCLUSION

GT may provide a high utility as a convenient and informative data set for orthopedic surgeons to analyze public interest in TKA and THA procedures. The data provided by GT have the potential to provide real-time, actionable information that may help surgeons and health systems to characterize public interest in TKA and THA and to best identify and address patient needs.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

The GT tool can be used to measure public interest in TKA/THA, which can inform physician expectations for the patient encounter and lead to the creation of decision aids that better inform the public about the risks and benefits of TKA/THA.

Using Google Trends Data to Track Healthcare Use for Hand Osteoarthritis

Background

Google Trends (GT) is a free tool that provides analysis of search traffic for specified terms entered into the Google search engine. In this study, we evaluate the association between public interest in hand osteoarthritis (OA) as determined by GT search volumes and healthcare usage related to hand OA.

Methodology

We compiled GT data from 2010 to 2017 for the following group of hand OA-related search terms: “hand osteoarthritis,” “hand arthritis,” “hand swelling,” “hand stiffness,” and “chronic hand pain.” Claims associated with hand OA codes were obtained from an administrative database (14.8 million patients) using International Classification of Diseases codes from 2010 to 2017. We performed trend analysis using univariate linear regression of GT data and hand OA claims. A month-by-month analysis of variation from yearly GT means was conducted for hand OA-related search terms.

Results

There was increased public interest in hand OA-related search terms from January 2010 to December 2017. Univariate linear regression of GT data for hand OA-related search terms compared with hand OA claims demonstrated a significant positive correlation (p < 0.001, r = 0.707). Peak public interest in hand OA-related search terms was observed in July, May, and June.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the ability of GT to track healthcare use related to hand OA. Our data also add to the evidence for monthly variations in public interest related to hand OA. Clinics and surgery centers can employ GT data to anticipate resource utilization by hand OA patients.