Effect of Tobacco Control Policies on Information Seeking for Smoking Cessation in the Netherlands: A Google Trends Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of tobacco control policies on measures of smoking cessation behaviour has often been studied, yet there is little information on their precise magnitude and duration. This study aims to measure the magnitude and timing of the impact of Dutch tobacco control policies on the rate of searching for information on smoking cessation, using Google Trends search query data.MethodsAn interrupted time series analysis was used to examine the effect of two types of policies (smoke-free legislation and reimbursement of smoking cessation support (SCS)) on Google searches for ‘quit smoking’. Google Trends data were seasonally adjusted and analysed using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) modelling. Multiple effect periods were modelled as dummy variables and analysed simultaneously to examine the magnitude and duration of the effect of each intervention. The same analysis was repeated with Belgian search query data as a control group, since Belgium is the country most comparable to the Netherlands in terms of geography, language, history and culture.ResultsA significant increase in relative search volume (RSV) was found from one to four weeks (21–41%) after the introduction of the smoking ban in restaurants and bars in the Netherlands in 2008. The introduction of SCS reimbursement in 2011 was associated with a significant increase of RSV (16–22%) in the Netherlands after 3 to 52 weeks. The reintroduction of SCS in 2013 was associated with a significant increase of RSV (9–21%) in the Netherlands from 3 to 32 weeks after the intervention. No effects were found in the Belgian control group for the smoking ban and the reintroduction of SCS in 2013, but there was a significant increase in RSV shortly before and after the introduction of SCS in 2011.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that these tobacco control policies have short-term or medium-term effects on the rate of searching for information on smoking cessation, and therefore potentially on smoking cessation rates.

Did the introduction of pictorial health warnings increase information seeking for smoking cessation?: Time-series analysis of Google Trends data in six countries

“…This time detail allowed us to accurately assess the timing and duration of hypothesized effects. This analytical potential is illustrated in previous applications of this method, where we were able to demonstrate short-term and medium-term effects of, respectively, smokefree legislation, reimbursement of stop-smoking medication, and a national smoking cessation campaign 27,31 .…”

“…Interrupted time-series design can be used to gain moderate to strong evidence for the impact of a policy measure that is introduced at a single point in time. The potential of Google Trends data for such an assessment was shown in a previous analysis on The Netherlands 27 . This showed clear short-term changes in internet searches for smoking cessation after the introduction of a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants and reimbursement of smoking cessation services.…”

“…Another factor to consider is the duration of potential effects, as other studies of effects on internet search volumes have shown quite shortlived effects 27,31 . This means that even with weekly data, it might be hard to identify potential effects, and even more so with monthly data.…”

“…USA studies showed that Google Trends data are a valuable tool for monitoring tobacco use 26 , including cigar use and smokeless tobacco 25 . A Dutch study using Google Trends found that online information seeking regarding smoking cessation increased after the introduction of a national ban on smoking in bars and reimbursement for smoking cessation services 27 .…”

Sigaradaki Fiyat Artışlarının Türkiye’deki Internet Arama Trafiği Üzerine Etkisi

“…Artan vergilerin, kitlelerin aramalarını belirgin bir şekilde etkilediği sonucuna varılan çalışmada, Google Trend'in, anket gibi geleneksel veri toplama yöntemlerine iyi bir alternatif olabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır. 2016 yılında gerçekleştirilen bir başka çalışma da ise (Troelstra, Bosdriesz, Boer, & Kunst, 2016); tütünle mücadele politikalarının etkisinin bilindiği ancak etkinin büyüklüğü ve süresi hakkında bir bilginin var olmadığı gerekçe gösterilerek; Hollanda'da sigarayla mücadeleyle ilgili politika unsurlarının devreye girdiği tarih aralıklarında, arama hacimlerinin ne şekilde değiştiği incelenmiştir. Hollanda'da restoran ve barlarda sigara tüketiminin yasaklanmasından sonra bazı arama terimlerindeki arama hacimlerinin 1-4 hafta arası belirgin bir şekilde artış gösterdiğini ortaya konulmuştur.…”