Mental Health Information Seeking Online: A Google Trends Analysis of ADHD

Zhao, Xin; Coxe, Stefany; Timmons, Adela C.; Frazier, Stacy L.

doi:10.1007/s10488-021-01168-w

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…With traditional health services recovering, patients could decide whether they prefer to seek traditional or digital health care, which often starts with web-based search engines [ 18 ]. Although the internet cannot substitute health professionals as a sole health information source due to a combination of the prominence of misinformation and a lack of health, digital, and science literacy [ 16 , 19 - 21 ], search engine data can be instrumental in understanding the general preference of populations in exploring the possibility of using digital health [ 22 , 23 ]. While web-based searches can be information- or curiosity-driven, previous research has shown that web-based search behavior is strongly correlated with the actual (health care) needs of the population and forms an integral part of a pathway to actual communication with health care providers [ 22 - 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

Kessel¹,

Kyriopoulos²,

Wong³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

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Background Due to the emergency responses early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital health in health care increased abruptly. However, it remains unclear whether this introduction was sustained in the long term, especially with patients being able to decide between digital and traditional health services once the latter regained their functionality throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective We aim to understand how the public interest in digital health changed as proxy for digital health–seeking behavior and to what extent this change was sustainable over time. Methods We used an interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends data with break points on March 11, 2020 (declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization), and December 20, 2020 (the announcement of the first COVID-19 vaccines). Nationally representative time-series data from February 2019 to August 2021 were extracted from Google Trends for 6 countries with English as their dominant language: Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. We measured the changes in relative search volumes of the keywords online doctor, telehealth, online health, telemedicine, and health app. In doing so, we capture the prepandemic trend, the immediate change due to the announcement of COVID-19 being a pandemic, and the gradual change after the announcement. Results Digital health search volumes immediately increased in all countries under study after the announcement of COVID-19 being a pandemic. There was some variation in what keywords were used per country. However, searches declined after this immediate spike, sometimes reverting to prepandemic levels. The announcement of COVID-19 vaccines did not consistently impact digital health search volumes in the countries under study. The exception is the search volume of health app, which was observed as either being stable or gradually increasing during the pandemic. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the increased public interest in digital health associated with the pandemic did not sustain, alluding to remaining structural barriers. Further building of digital health capacity and developing robust digital health governance frameworks remain crucial to facilitating sustainable digital health transformation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

Kessel¹,

Kyriopoulos²,

Wong³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The present study utilized data from Google Trends as surrogate measures of public interest and awareness since the internet has been a popular source of health-related information for the public. It has been used to assess and monitor numerous non-communicable and communicable diseases, such as COVID-19 and mental disorders ( Arora et al, 2019 ; Moalong et al, 2021 ; Nuti et al, 2014 ; Zhao et al, 2022 ). It can aggregate all searches for a specific keyword and related concepts in any language using keywords designated as “Topic” ( Mavragani & Ochoa, 2019 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The resulting number is expressed using a score on a 0 to 100 scale, where “0” reflects the lowest possible search volume while “100” represents the maximum search volume ( Moalong et al, 2021 ). SVI reflects the changes in the magnitude of interest in a particular keyword ( Alibudbud, 2022 ; Arora et al, 2019 ; Moalong et al, 2021 ; Nuti et al., 2014 ; Zhao et al, 2022 ). The present study utilized SVI to measure changes in interest for Ivermectin over time.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Case of Pharmaceutical Messianism Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Infodemiological Study of Ivermectin in the Philippines

Alibudbud

2022

Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice

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Pharmaceutical messianism is a manifestation of medical populism. It arises during extraordinary crises, is built on the familiar, endorsed by heterodox authorities, and involves a highly accessible panacea. Amid the politics and public desperation in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmaceutical messianism can be observed in the form of Ivermectin, a panacea offered to prevent and treat COVID-19. Thus, it may be worthwhile to determine the changes and patterns of public interest toward Ivermectin. This infodemiological study utilized and described Search Volume Index and related queries for Ivermectin from Google Trends vis-à-vis reported societal events in the Philippines to determine changes in public interest in Ivermectin use. It revealed that a tremendous increase in public interest in Ivermectin has emerged during surges of COVID-19 cases, endorsement by politicians and heterodox health authorities, and public distribution of Ivermectin. It also showed that public interest increased as the number of component characteristics of pharmaceutical messianism increased. Search-related queries and topics also showed that the public might be using the internet to inform themselves regarding the use of Ivermectin for humans, including its use for COVID-19. These findings suggest that people may study the endorsed panacea and weigh it against conventional and orthodox treatment during rising COVID-19 cases. Thus, easily understandable, highly searchable, reliable, and trustworthy online information is ever-crucial in this age of information and disinformation.

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“…Although the internet cannot substitute health professionals as a sole health information source due to a combination of the prominence of misinformation and a lack of health, digital, and science literacy (13,(16)(17)(18), search engine data can be instrumental in understanding the general preference of populations in exploring the possibility of using digital health (19,20). While online searches can be information-or curiosity-driven, previous research has shown that online search behaviour is strongly correlated with the actual (healthcare) needs of the population and forms an integral part of a pathway to actual communication with healthcare providers (19)(20)(21)(22). This article aims to further explore the digital readiness for structurally implementing digital health solutions by investigating the health-seeking behaviour of the general population by analysing Google Trends™ data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With traditional health services having regained their ability to function, patients can increasingly decide whether they prefer to seek traditional or digital healthcare, which often starts with online search engines (15). Although the internet cannot substitute health professionals as a sole health information source due to a combination of the prominence of misinformation and a lack of health, digital, and science literacy (13,(16)(17)(18), search engine data can be instrumental in understanding the general preference of populations in exploring the possibility of using digital health (19,20). While online searches can be information-or curiosity-driven, previous research has shown that online search behaviour is strongly correlated with the actual (healthcare) needs of the population and forms an integral part of a pathway to actual communication with healthcare providers (19)(20)(21)(22).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Has the pandemic enhanced and sustained digital health-seeking behaviour? A big data interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends

Kessel

Kyriopoulos

Wong

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: Due to the emergency responses early in the pandemic, the use of digital health in healthcare increased abruptly, yet it remains unclear whether this introduction was sustainable on the long term. We explore trends in digital health-seeking behaviour as proxy for readiness to adopt digital health as a mainstream form of healthcare. Methods: We use weekly Google Trends data from February 2019 to August 2021 in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. We used five keywords to monitor online search interests in Google Trends: online doctor, telehealth, online health, telemedicine, and health app. Data are analysed using an interrupted time-series analysis with break-points on 11 March 2020 and 20 December 2020. Results: Digital health searches immediately increased in all countries after the pandemic announcement. There was some variance in what keywords were used per country. However, searches declined after this immediate spike, sometimes towards pre-pandemic levels. The exception is the search volume of health app, which showed to either remain stable or gradually increase during the pandemic. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that digital health-seeking behavioural patterns associated with the pandemic are currently not sustainable. Further building of digital health capacity and development of robust digital governance and literacy frameworks remain crucial to more structurally facilitate digital health transformation across countries. Funding: Not applicable.

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Mental Health Information Seeking Online: A Google Trends Analysis of ADHD

Cited by 23 publications

References 85 publications

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

A Case of Pharmaceutical Messianism Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Infodemiological Study of Ivermectin in the Philippines

Has the pandemic enhanced and sustained digital health-seeking behaviour? A big data interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends

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