Dataset Information

Global search trends on common vaccine-related information in English on the Internet.

ABSTRACT: Background:The knowledge about Internet search trends helps to know the information-seeking behavior of the Internet users and this would help in formulating Information Education and Communication strategy. Aim:The aim of this study was to explore the global Internet search trends about vaccine-related information in English. Materials and Methods:First, we conducted a pilot interview with 15 participants (convenience sample from a tertiary care hospital) to make a list of five common query keywords (viz., When, Where, Cost, Side effect, Schedule) for vaccine-related search. Then, we obtained the search trends from "Google trends" for 5 years with the five query keywords prefixed with vaccine (e.g. vaccine when). In the second phase, individual vaccine search was conducted with a particular vaccine name and query keyword (e.g. measles vaccine side effect). Results:Five-year search trend showed that the highest volume of search was for "schedule" (36.79%), followed by "when" (26.57%), "cost" (21.97%), and "where" (11.99%). The "side effect" showed the lowest volume of search (2.68%) (?2 = 10595, P < 0.0001). The search volume was increased over the years. The highest volume of the "when" and "where" were searched from the USA. The "cost" was searched in the highest volume from Australia. "Side effect" and "schedule" of the vaccine were searched with the highest volume from Philippines and Nepal, respectively. Conclusion:This study provides a glimpse of global vaccine-related search trends over a period of 5 years. Information on the "schedule" and "when" to get the vaccine should be strengthened for wider dissemination of knowledge.

SUBMITTER: Rampally V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7113945 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Global search trends on common vaccine-related information in English on the Internet.

Rampally Vijay V Mondal Himel H Mondal Shaikat S

Journal of family medicine and primary care 20200228 2

<h4>Background</h4>The knowledge about Internet search trends helps to know the information-seeking behavior of the Internet users and this would help in formulating Information Education and Communication strategy.<h4>Aim</h4>The aim of this study was to explore the global Internet search trends about vaccine-related information in English.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>First, we conducted a pilot interview with 15 participants (convenience sample from a tertiary care hospital) to make a list of ...[more]

PMID: 32318405

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Project description:BackgroundThe prevalence of chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes is increasing in African countries. Many chronic diseases have been linked to risk factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity. Data for these behavioral risk factors are usually obtained from surveys, which can be delayed by years. Behavioral data from digital sources, including social media and search engines, could be used for timely monitoring of behavioral risk factors.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to propose the use of digital data from internet sources for monitoring changes in behavioral risk factors in Africa.MethodsWe obtained the adjusted volume of search queries submitted to Google for 108 terms related to diet, exercise, and disease from 2010 to 2016. We also obtained the obesity and overweight prevalence for 52 African countries from the World Health Organization (WHO) for the same period. Machine learning algorithms (ie, random forest, support vector machine, Bayes generalized linear model, gradient boosting, and an ensemble of the individual methods) were used to identify search terms and patterns that correlate with changes in obesity and overweight prevalence across Africa. Out-of-sample predictions were used to assess and validate the model performance.ResultsThe study included 52 African countries. In 2016, the WHO reported an overweight prevalence ranging from 20.9% (95% credible interval [CI] 17.1%-25.0%) to 66.8% (95% CI 62.4%-71.0%) and an obesity prevalence ranging from 4.5% (95% CI 2.9%-6.5%) to 32.5% (95% CI 27.2%-38.1%) in Africa. The highest obesity and overweight prevalence were noted in the northern and southern regions. Google searches for diet-, exercise-, and obesity-related terms explained 97.3% (root-mean-square error [RMSE] 1.15) of the variation in obesity prevalence across all 52 countries. Similarly, the search data explained 96.6% (RMSE 2.26) of the variation in the overweight prevalence. The search terms yoga, exercise, and gym were most correlated with changes in obesity and overweight prevalence in countries with the highest prevalence.ConclusionsInformation-seeking patterns for diet- and exercise-related terms could indicate changes in attitudes toward and engagement in risk factors or healthy behaviors. These trends could capture population changes in risk factor prevalence, inform digital and physical interventions, and supplement official data from surveys.

Dataset Information

Global search trends on common vaccine-related information in English on the Internet.

Publications

Global search trends on common vaccine-related information in English on the Internet.

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