Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), As Xubias 84, 15006, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.
Clinical Research in Medicine, International Center for Doctorate and Advanced Studies (CIEDUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Jul;278(7):2569-2575. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06494-7. Epub 2020 Nov 25.
Oropharyngeal cancer is estimated to continue to increase in the next decades. Prevention strategies and knowing the current situation of knowledge and concern of the population about this disease is necessary. Infodemiology is valuable to monitor health information-seeking behaviour trends and epidemiology. The objective of this study is to analyze the use and evolution, through Google trends as a source of information, of internet-based information-seeking behaviour related to the oropharyngeal cancer in Spain and related to mass media stories.
Using Google Trends, the terms "throat cancer', "HPV", "laryngeal cancer", "tonsil cancer" and "oral cancer". The searches volume and trend were analyzed using a Jointpoint regression method from January 2009 to July 2019.
The most searched term was "HPV", with a search volume index of 61, followed by "throat cancer" (SVI = 25). The trend of the term "HPV" increased 6.1% annually (p < 0.000), with a linear correlation of both terms of 0.52 (p < 0.000). The greatest number of searches was carried out in the north of Spain, the most repeated query being "oral sex AND cancer". A correlation between the news in the media and the increase in the volume of searches for the terms was found.
Any news stories, new interventions or aetiology related to oropharyngeal cancer can manifest as an increase in information-seeking behaviours for "throat cancer" on Google. Understanding healthcare information-seeking behaviour is essential in order to control and plan the quality of knowledge provided by health organisations, advocacy groups and health professionals regarding head and neck cancers.
据估计，未来几十年口咽癌的发病率将继续上升。有必要制定预防策略，了解当前人口对这种疾病的认知和关注情况。传染病学对于监测健康信息搜索行为趋势和流行病学具有重要价值。本研究的目的是分析通过 Google Trends 这一信息来源，了解西班牙与口咽癌相关的互联网信息搜索行为以及与大众媒体报道相关的使用情况和演变情况。
使用 Google Trends，搜索了“咽喉癌”、“HPV”、“喉癌”、“扁桃体癌”和“口腔癌”等术语。使用联合点回归方法，从 2009 年 1 月到 2019 年 7 月，分析了搜索量和趋势。
搜索最多的术语是“HPV”，其搜索量指数为 61，其次是“咽喉癌”（SVI=25）。“HPV”一词的趋势每年增长 6.1%（p<0.000），这两个术语之间的线性相关性为 0.52（p<0.000）。搜索最多的地区是西班牙北部，最常查询的是“口交与癌症”。发现媒体新闻与术语搜索量的增加之间存在相关性。
任何与口咽癌相关的新闻报道、新干预措施或病因都可能导致对 Google 上“咽喉癌”的信息搜索行为增加。了解医疗保健信息搜索行为对于控制和规划卫生组织、宣传团体和卫生专业人员提供的有关头颈部癌症的知识质量至关重要。
