Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34402801›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021

Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis.

Maria Effenberger, Andreas Kronbichler, Erica Bettac, Felix Grabherr, Christoph Grander, Timon Erik Adolph, Gert Mayer, Heinz Zoller, Paul Perco, Herbert Tilg

Abstract read
In one paragraph

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 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Maria Effenberger *Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-0499-9953
Andreas KronbichlerDepartment of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-2945-2946
Erica BettacDepartment of Psychology, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-8515-505X
Felix GrabherrDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-5731-8253
Christoph GranderDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-2971-6224
Timon Erik AdolphDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4736-830X
Gert MayerDepartment of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-4605-1789
Heinz ZollerDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-1794-422X
Paul PercoDepartment of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-2087-5691
Herbert TilgDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4235-2579

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLiver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met worldwide, and the need for LT is still increasing. The death rates on the waiting list remain too high.

objectiveIt is, therefore, critical to raise awareness among the public and health care providers and in turn increasingly acquire donors.

methodsWe performed a Google Trends search using the search terms liver transplantation and liver transplant on October 15, 2020. On the basis of the resulting monthly data, the annual average Google Trends indices were calculated for the years 2004 to 2018. We not only investigated the trend worldwide but also used data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Spain, and Eurotransplant. Using pairwise Spearman correlations, Google Trends indices were examined over time and compared with the total number of liver transplants retrieved from the respective official websites of UNOS, the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes, and Eurotransplant.

resultsFrom 2004 to 2018, there was a significant decrease in the worldwide Google Trends index from 78.2 in 2004 to 20.5 in 2018 (-71.2%). This trend was more evident in UNOS than in the Eurotransplant group. In the same period, the number of transplanted livers increased worldwide. The waiting list mortality rate was 31% for Eurotransplant and 29% for UNOS. However, in Spain, where there are excellent awareness programs, the Google Trends index remained stable over the years with comparable, increasing LT numbers but a significantly lower waiting list mortality (15%).

conclusionsPublic awareness in LT has decreased significantly over the past two decades. Therefore, novel awareness programs should be initialized.

Indexed as

Liver TransplantationHumansSearch EngineSpainWaiting Listsdigital medicineeHealthinfodemiologypublic awarenesssearch trends

Identifiers

PMID34402801
PMCPMC8408753

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Registered trials

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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.