Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2014 Jan;25(1):53-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2013.09.015. Epub 2013 Nov 25.
To analyze Internet search data to characterize the temporal and geographic interest of Internet users in the United States in varicose vein treatment.
From January 1, 2004, to September 1, 2012, the Google Trends tool was used to analyze query data for "varicose vein treatment" to identify individuals seeking treatment information for varicose veins. The term "varicose vein treatment" returned a search volume index (SVI), representing the search frequency relative to the total search volume during a specific time interval and region. Linear regression analysis and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance were employed to characterize search results.
Search traffic for varicose vein treatment increased by 520% over the 104-month study period. There was an annual mean increase of 28% (range, -18%-100%; standard deviation [SD], 35%), with a statistically significant linear increase in average yearly SVI over time (R(2) = 0.94, P < .0001). All years showed positive growth in mean SVI except for 2008 (18% decrease). There were statistically significant differences in SVI by month (Kruskal-Wallis, P < .0001) with significantly higher mean SVI compared with other months in May (190% increase; range, 26%-670%; SD, 15%) and June (209% increase; range, 35%-700%; SD, 20%). The southern United States showed significantly higher search traffic than all other regions (Tukey-Kramer, P < .00001).
There have been significant increases in Internet search traffic related to varicose vein treatment in the past 8 years. Reflected in this trend is an annual peak in search traffic in the late spring months with an overall geographic bias toward southern states. Rigorous analysis of Internet search queries for medical procedures may prove useful to guide the efficient use of limited resources and marketing dollars.
分析互联网搜索数据，以描绘美国互联网用户对静脉曲张治疗的兴趣的时间和地域特征。
从 2004 年 1 月 1 日至 2012 年 9 月 1 日，使用谷歌趋势工具分析了“静脉曲张治疗”的查询数据，以确定寻求静脉曲张治疗信息的个体。“静脉曲张治疗”这一术语返回了一个搜索量指数（SVI），代表特定时间段和地区内的搜索频率相对于总搜索量的比例。采用线性回归分析和克鲁斯卡尔-沃利斯单向方差分析来描述搜索结果。
在 104 个月的研究期间，静脉曲张治疗的搜索量增加了 520%。每年的平均增长率为 28%（范围为-18%至 100%；标准差[SD]为 35%），平均 SVI 随时间呈线性显著增加（R²=0.94，P<.0001）。除 2008 年（下降 18%）外，所有年份的平均 SVI 均呈正增长。SVI 按月存在统计学差异（克鲁斯卡尔-沃利斯，P<.0001），与其他月份相比，5 月（增长 190%；范围为 26%至 670%；SD 为 15%）和 6 月（增长 209%；范围为 35%至 700%；SD 为 20%）的平均 SVI 明显更高。与其他所有地区相比，美国南部的搜索流量明显更高（图基-克莱默，P<.00001）。
过去 8 年中，与静脉曲张治疗相关的互联网搜索流量显著增加。这种趋势反映了每年春末搜索流量的高峰期，以及整体上对南部各州的地域偏好。对医疗程序的互联网搜索查询进行严格分析可能有助于指导有限资源和营销资金的有效利用。
