Online Interest in Colorectal Cancer Screening in Florida.

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second most common cause of cancer death for men and women combined. It is estimated that in 2024, 53,010 people will have died from CRC. The objective of this study was to analyze online interest in CRC screening in Florida.

METHODS

Google Trends was queried for "colorectal cancer screening," "fecal occult blood test," and "colonoscopy" from 2004 to the present. The relative search volume (RSV) ranged from 0 to 100, with 0 meaning no interest and 100 signifying maximum popularity.

RESULTS

Google Trends analysis revealed variations in interest for CRC screening, fecal occult blood test as a screen, and colonoscopy across Florida metropolitan areas. Gainesville consistently ranked high for all three terms. Interest peaked for screening in 2009 and 2022, for fecal occult blood test in 2024, and for colonoscopy in 2007. Related search terms focused on screening guidelines, procedures, and preparation.

CONCLUSIONS

Google Trends can provide a useful tool for evaluating interest in Florida for CRC screening, which is important because there are screening disparities across Florida counties compared with national and state averages. By identifying areas with lower search interest, healthcare providers and public health organizations can target community interventions based on the specific barriers faced by residents in each metropolis.