Online search interest in long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology study using the most visited search engine in Japan

Ishizuka, Kosuke; Miyagami, Taiju; Tsuchida, Tomoya; Saita, Mizue; Ohira, Yoshiyuki; Naito, Toshio

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0294261

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 27 publications

(40 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Search volume data were retrieved with authorized access from the Yahoo Japan Corporation server via the DS.INSIGHT People portal. It has been used in studies focusing on transition or trends in search behavior over time among different demographics (eg, gender, age, or prefecture) [17]. The user manual is available on the web [18].…”

Section: Data Sourcementioning

confidence: 99%

Web-Based Search Volume for HIV Tests and HIV-Testing Preferences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology Study

Kanamori,

Umemura,

Uemura

et al. 2024

JMIR Form Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Research has found a COVID-19 pandemic–related impact on HIV medical services, including clinic visits, testing, and antiviral therapy initiation in countries including Japan. However, the change in trend for HIV/AIDS testing during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been explored extensively in the Japanese population. Objective This infodemiology study examines the web-based search interest for two types of HIV tests, self-test kits and facility-based tests, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Methods The monthly search volume of queried search terms was obtained from Yahoo! JAPAN. Search volumes for the following terms were collected from November 2017 to October 2018: “HIV test,” “HIV test kit,” and “HIV test health center.” The search term “Corona PCR” and the number of new COVID-19 cases by month were used as a control for the search trends. The number of new HIV cases in the corresponding study period was obtained from the AIDS Trend Committee Quarterly Report from the AIDS Prevention Foundation. Results Compared to the search volume of “corona-PCR,” which roughly fluctuated corresponding to the number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan, the search volume of “HIV test” was relatively stable from 2019 to 2022. When we further stratified by the type of HIV test, the respective web-based search interest in HIV self-testing and facility-based testing showed distinct patterns from 2018 to 2022. While the search volume of “HIV test kit” remained stable, that of “HIV test health center” displayed a decreasing trend starting in 2018 and has remained low since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 66%-71% of the search volume of “HIV test kits” was attributable to searches made by male internet users from 2018 to 2022, and the top three contributing age groups were those aged 30-39 (27%-32%), 20-29 (19%-32%), and 40-49 (19%-25%) years. On the other hand, the search volume of “HIV test health centers” by male users decreased from more than 500 from 2018 to 2019 to fewer than 300 from 2020 to 2022. Conclusions Our study found a notable decrease in the search volume of “HIV test health center” during the pandemic, while the search volume for HIV self-testing kits remained stable before and during the COVID-19 crisis in Japan. This suggests that the previously reported COVID-19–related decrease in the number of HIV tests mostly likely referred to facility-based testing. This sheds light on the change in HIV-testing preferences in Japan, calling for a more comprehensive application and regulatory acceptance of HIV self-instructed tests.

show abstract

Section: Data Sourcementioning

confidence: 99%

Web-Based Search Volume for HIV Tests and HIV-Testing Preferences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology Study

Kanamori,

Umemura,

Uemura

et al. 2024

JMIR Form Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Proposing Exercise Prescriptions Considering Sex, Age, and Lifestyle Based on Internet Search Data (Preprint)

Uemura,

Miyagami,

Saita

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND Exercise prescription by physicians is beneficial for initiating or intensifying physical activity. However, providing specific exercise prescriptions is challenging; therefore, few physicians prescribe exercise. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to aid physicians prescribe exercise by understanding trends in exercise preferences based on sex, age, and environmental factors and to encourage behavioral changes in both patients who cannot exercise and doctors who cannot prescribe exercise. METHODS Search keyword volume was collected from Yahoo! JAPAN from January to December 2022. Ten exercise-related terms were analyzed to assess exercise interest. Total search volume, sex and age percentages, as well as characteristic score, were considered based on prefecture. By performing hierarchical cluster analysis, regional features were examined, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to assess relationships with population and industry data. RESULTS The top-searched term was “Pilates” (266,000 queries). Sex differences revealed men showing higher interest in activities, such as “running” (62%) and “muscle training” (59%), than women. However, women exhibited higher interest in “Pilates” (75%) and “yoga” (74%) than men. Based on age, both men and women in their 40s dominated the search. Hierarchical cluster analysis using a characteristic score as a variable classified prefectures into four clusters. The characteristics of these clusters were as follows: Cluster 1 had the largest population and a thriving tertiary industry, and individuals tended to search for Pilates and yoga. Following Cluster 1, Cluster 2, with its substantial population, had a thriving secondary industry, with searches for radio gymnastics and exercise bike. Cluster 4 had a small population, a thriving primary industry, and the least searched for any term. The population of Cluster 3 was similar to that of Cluster 4, but with more secondary industries. CONCLUSIONS Men tend to search for self-improvement through individual-centered activities, such as running, whereas women are more inclined to search for exercises, such as Pilates, to enhance their health. Despite the high search volume among individuals in their 40s, their actual exercise habits are low among those in their 30s–50s. Search volumes for instructor-led exercises are higher in Cluster 1 areas than in other cluster areas, but the total number of searches decreases as the community size decreases. These results suggest that trends in search behavior depending on sex, age, and environment are important when prescribing exercise for effective behavioral changes.

show abstract

Online search interest in long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology study using the most visited search engine in Japan

Cited by 2 publications

References 27 publications

Web-Based Search Volume for HIV Tests and HIV-Testing Preferences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology Study

Web-Based Search Volume for HIV Tests and HIV-Testing Preferences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology Study

Proposing Exercise Prescriptions Considering Sex, Age, and Lifestyle Based on Internet Search Data (Preprint)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About