ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021
Biannual Differences in Interest Peaks for Web Inquiries Into Ear Pain and Ear Drops: Infodemiology Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Common Needs of Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease: Qualitative Analysis Based on Disease-Specific Social Media Platforms.Patient preference and adherence · 2024Article
- Fluctuations in emergency department visits related to acute otitis media are associated with extreme meteorological conditions.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe data retrieved with the online search engine, Google Trends, can summarize internet inquiries into specified search terms. This engine may be used for analyzing inquiry peaks for different medical conditions and symptoms.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze World Wide Web interest peaks for "ear pain," "ear infection," and "ear drops."
methodsWe used Google Trends to assess the public online interest for search terms "ear pain," "ear infection," and "ear drops" in 5 English and non-English-speaking countries from both hemispheres based on time series data. We performed our analysis for the time frame between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019. First, we assessed whether our search terms were most relevant to the topics of ear pain, ear infection, and ear drops. We then tested the reliability of Google Trends time series data using the intraclass correlation coefficient. In a second step, we computed univariate time series plots to depict peaks in web-based interest. In the last step, we used the cosinor analysis to test the statistical significance of seasonal interest peaks.
resultsIn the first part of the study, it was revealed that "ear infection," "ear pain," and "ear drops" were the most relevant search terms in the noted time frame. Next, the intraclass correlation analysis showed a moderate to excellent reliability for all 5 countries' 3 primary search terms. The subsequent analysis revealed winter interest peaks for "ear infection" and "ear pain". On the other hand, the World Wide Web search for "ear drops" peaked annually during the summer months. All peaks were statistically significant as revealed by the cosinor model (all P values <.001).
conclusionsIt can be concluded that individuals affected by otitis media or externa, possibly the majority, look for medical information online. Therefore, there is a need for accurate and easily accessible information on these conditions in the World Wide Web, particularly on differentiating signs and therapy options. Meeting this need may facilitate timely diagnosis, proper therapy, and eventual circumvention of potentially life-threatening complications.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.