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Alibudbud R. Wikipedia page views for health research: a review. Front Big Data 2023; 6:1199060. [PMID: 37469441 PMCID: PMC10353851 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2023.1199060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Wikipedia is an open-source online encyclopedia and one of the most-read sources of online health information. Likewise, Wikipedia page views have also been analyzed to inform public health services and policies. The present review analyzed 29 studies utilizing Wikipedia page views for health research. Most reviewed studies were published in recent years and emanated from high-income countries. Together with Wikipedia page views, most studies also used data from other internet sources, such as Google, Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit. The reviewed studies also explored various non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, and health interventions to describe changes in the utilization of online health information from Wikipedia, to examine the effect of public events on public interest and information usage about health-related Wikipedia pages, to estimate and predict the incidence and prevalence of diseases, to predict data from other internet data sources, to evaluate the effectiveness of health education activities, and to explore the evolution of a health topic. Given some of the limitations in replicating some of the reviewed studies, future research can specify the specific Wikipedia page or pages analyzed, the language of the Wikipedia pages examined, dates of data collection, dates explored, type of data, and whether page views were limited to Internet users and whether web crawlers and redirects to the Wikipedia page were included. Future research can also explore public interest in other commonly read health topics available in Wikipedia, develop Wikipedia-based models that can be used to predict disease incidence and improve Wikipedia-based health education activities.
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Pérez‐Carbonell L, Simonet C, Chohan H, Gill A, Leschziner G, Schrag A, Noyce AJ. The Views of Patients with Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder on Risk Disclosure. Mov Disord 2023; 38:1089-1093. [PMID: 37046409 PMCID: PMC10947281 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. There is no consensus about disclosure of this risk to patients with iRBD. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to assess the experiences of risk disclosure in a group of patients with iRBD and their views on what, when, and how this should be done. METHODS A survey was administered to patients with iRBD to explore their experiences and views on risk disclosure. RESULTS Thirty-one patients with iRBD (28 males; mean age, 70 [SD 8.7] years; mean disease duration, 8.7 [SD 6.4] years) were included. A third reported they had not been informed about the link between iRBD and other conditions by clinicians at diagnosis, but 90% would have liked to have received prognostic information, and 60% indicated that this should happen at the point that iRBD was diagnosed. Most participants wanted this information to come from the clinician diagnosing and treating iRBD (90.3%). Almost three-quarters (72.2%) had searched for this information online. CONCLUSIONS Patients with iRBD mostly wished to have received information regarding the potential implications of iRBD when the diagnosis was made. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez‐Carbonell
- Sleep Disorders Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Cristina Simonet
- Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population HealthQueen Mary University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Harneek Chohan
- Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population HealthQueen Mary University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Aneet Gill
- Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population HealthQueen Mary University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Guy Leschziner
- Sleep Disorders Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Anette Schrag
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeuroscienceUCL Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Alastair J. Noyce
- Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population HealthQueen Mary University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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Ciechanowski K, Banasik-Jemielniak N, Jemielniak D. What's hot and what's not in lay psychology: Wikipedia's most-viewed articles. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 43:1-13. [PMID: 36248218 PMCID: PMC9553632 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03826-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We studied views of articles about psychology on 10 language editions of Wikipedia from July 1, 2015, to January 6, 2021. We were most interested in what psychology topics Wikipedia users wanted to read, and how the frequency of views changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Our results show that the topics of interest to people seeking psychological knowledge changed during the pandemic. In addition, the interests differ noticeably among the languages. We made two important observations. The first was that during the pandemic, people in most countries looked for new ways to manage their stress without resorting to external help. This is understandable, given the increased stress of lockdown and the limited amount of professional help available. We also found that academic topics, typically covered in university classes, experienced a substantial drop in traffic, which could be indicative of issues with remote teaching. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03826-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaśmir Ciechanowski
- MINDS (Management in Networked and Digital Societies) Department, Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Dariusz Jemielniak
- MINDS (Management in Networked and Digital Societies) Department, Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland
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Mondia MWL, Espiritu AI, Jamora RDG. Brain Tumor Infodemiology: Worldwide Online Health-Seeking Behavior Using Google Trends and Wikipedia Pageviews. Front Oncol 2022; 12:855534. [PMID: 35515112 PMCID: PMC9061992 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.855534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Searching the internet for information on common neurologic symptoms and diseases has been increasing in recent times. It is postulated that online search volume data could be utilized to gauge public awareness and real-world epidemiological data regarding brain tumors. Objectives The goal of this study was to describe the pattern of online search queries of keywords related to neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS). Methods Using Google Trends, search activity from January 2004 – January 2021 was quantified using relative search volume (RSV). The average RSV for the first 3 years was compared with the final 3 years to account for percent change. Wikipedia article views from July 2007 – January 2021 were generated using Pageviews. Peaks in RSV and page views were then matched for related news. Results “Brain tumor”, “brain cancer”, “glioblastoma”, and “glioma” had the highest search volume. RSV from Google Trends and views of Wikipedia pages reflected comparable data in terms of known prevalence rankings of tumor subtypes. There were no observable trends that could correlate to the rising numbers of brain tumor cases worldwide. However, headlines of personalities being diagnosed with glioblastomas were mostly responsible for temporary increases in public interest. Conclusions Transient rises in online search volume mirror public awareness of more aggressive CNS neoplasms that have a high burden of disease. Worldwide interest in brain tumors may not necessarily correspond to clinical occurrence, but may signify an unmet gap in providing accurate online information to neuro-oncologic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Willy L Mondia
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Adrian I Espiritu
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.,Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Roland Dominic G Jamora
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.,Institute for Neurosciences, St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City & Global City, Philippines
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Moalong KMC, Jamora RDG, Roberto KT, Espiritu AI. Patterns of Google search behavior for epilepsy and seizures in the Philippines: An infodemiological study. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 125:108377. [PMID: 34717171 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The internet has been established as a rich source of health information that is well utilized by the public. Online health information-seeking behavior may reflect public awareness in particular health-related topics, including epilepsy and seizures. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe online search behavior for epilepsy and seizures in the Philippines through the examination of trends of Philippine-based Google search queries for epilepsy and seizure-related terms. METHODS The search volume indices (SVIs) for the keywords "epilepsy (disorder)" and "seizure (disease)" based on Philippine-based Google searches from January 2004 to July 2021 were generated using Google Trends. Descriptive analysis of search volume patterns, including related topics and queries, was performed. RESULTS There was a recent relative increase in Philippine-based searches related to the term "seizure" with a concurrent relative decline in searches related to the term "epilepsy" over time. The Philippines had the fifth-highest SVI for "seizure" based on worldwide trends. Most searches centered on the definition, symptomatology, etiologies, classification, and treatment of seizures and epilepsy. Queries containing seizure-related terms rose in volume by more than 5000% during the seventeen-year period. Search volume tended to peak during the National Epilepsy Awareness Week in September but slumped during holiday months. CONCLUSIONS Online search behavior in the Philippines for seizure-related terms appears to be on the rise and may reflect increasing public awareness in epilepsy. Factors including fears surrounding epileptic seizures, the stigma surrounding the term "epilepsy", and seasonal events including a regularly held epilepsy awareness week may influence online search behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Michael C Moalong
- Division of Adult Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
| | - Roland Dominic G Jamora
- Division of Adult Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines; Section of Neurology, Institute for Neurosciences, St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City & Global City, Philippines.
| | - Katrina T Roberto
- Division of Adult Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
| | - Adrian I Espiritu
- Division of Adult Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Naik H, Johnson MDD, Johnson MR. Internet Interest in Colon Cancer Following the Death of Chadwick Boseman: Infoveillance Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e27052. [PMID: 34128824 PMCID: PMC8277405 DOI: 10.2196/27052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Compared with White Americans, Black Americans have higher colon cancer mortality rates but lower up-to-date screening rates. Chadwick Boseman was a prominent Black American actor who died of colon cancer on August 28, 2020. As announcements of celebrity diagnoses often result in increased awareness, Boseman’s death may have resulted in greater interest in colon cancer on the internet, particularly among Black Americans. Objective This study aims to quantify the impact of Chadwick Boseman’s death on web-based search interest in colon cancer and determine whether there was an increase in interest in regions of the United States with a greater proportion of Black Americans. Methods We conducted an infoveillance study using Google Trends (GT) and Wikipedia pageview analysis. Using an autoregressive integrated moving average algorithm, we forecasted the weekly relative search volume (RSV) for GT search topics and terms related to colon cancer that would have been expected had his death not occurred and compared it with observed RSV data. This analysis was also conducted for the number of page views on the Wikipedia page for colorectal cancer. We then delineated GT RSV data for the term colon cancer for states and metropolitan areas in the United States and determined how the RSV values for these regions correlated with the percentage of Black Americans in that region. Differences in these correlations before and after Boseman’s death were compared to determine whether there was a shift in the racial demographics of the individuals conducting the searches. Results The observed RSVs for the topics colorectal cancer and colon cancer screening increased by 598% and 707%, respectively, and were on average 121% (95% CI 72%-193%) and 256% (95% CI 35%-814%) greater than expected during the first 3 months following Boseman’s death. Daily Wikipedia page view volume during the 2 months following Boseman’s death was on average 1979% (95% CI 1375%-2894%) greater than expected, and it was estimated that this represented 547,354 (95% CI 497,708-585,167) excess Wikipedia page views. Before Boseman’s death, there were negative correlations between the percentage of Black Americans living in a state or metropolitan area and the RSV for colon cancer in that area (r=−0.18 and r=−0.05, respectively). However, in the 2 weeks following his death, there were positive correlations between the RSV for colon cancer and the percentage of Black Americans per state and per metropolitan area (r=0.73 and r=0.33, respectively). These changes persisted for 4 months and were all statistically significant (P<.001). Conclusions There was a significant increase in web-based activity related to colon cancer following Chadwick Boseman’s death, particularly in areas with a higher proportion of Black Americans. This reflects a heightened public awareness that can be leveraged to further educate the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiten Naik
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Lavorgna L, Brigo F, Esposito S, Abbadessa G, Sparaco M, Lanzillo R, Moccia M, Inglese M, Bonfanti L, Trojsi F, Spina E, Russo A, De Micco P, Clerico M, Tedeschi G, Bonavita S. Public Engagement and Neurology: An Update. Brain Sci 2021; 11:429. [PMID: 33800571 PMCID: PMC8065487 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public engagement (PE) is defined as the involvement of "specialists who listen, develop their understanding, and interact with non-specialists in non-profit activities of educational, cultural, and social nature to engage the public in science-related matters". The public health relevance of PE consists in building up a scientifically literate society, able to participate in and support scientific and technological developments and their implications for educational settings. Neurological disorders account for 35% of all diseases. PE could have a positive impact on the lives of people affected by neurological diseases. METHOD This review evaluates the role of PE in dementia, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, migraine, neurogenetics, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS PE can provide accessible information, support research activities and prevention through appropriate lifestyles, and increase knowledge and awareness of neurological disorders, improving their diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Lavorgna
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), 39012 Merano, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Esposito
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | - Gianmarco Abbadessa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | - Maddalena Sparaco
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | - Roberta Lanzillo
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy; (R.L.); (M.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Marcello Moccia
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy; (R.L.); (M.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Matilde Inglese
- Italy—OSPEDALE San Martino, IRCCS, University of Genova, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Luca Bonfanti
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), 10043 Orbassano, Italy;
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Trojsi
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | - Emanuele Spina
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy; (R.L.); (M.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Antonio Russo
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | | | - Marinella Clerico
- Clinical and Biological Sciences Department, University of Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy;
| | - Gioacchino Tedeschi
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
| | - Simona Bonavita
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, AOU—University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, P.zza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy; (L.L.); (S.E.); (G.A.); (M.S.); (A.R.); (G.T.); (S.B.)
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Rutovic S, Fumagalli AI, Lutsenko I, Corea F. Public Interest in Neurological Diseases on Wikipedia during Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. Neurol Int 2021; 13:59-63. [PMID: 33578628 PMCID: PMC7931017 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint13010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infodemiology is a research discipline that investigates parameters of information distribution in order to support public health and public policy. Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia, is commonly used as a source of information for infodemiological studies. Using Pageviews analysis, we descriptively assessed the total monthly number of views of the Wikipedia articles in English describing main neurological diseases in the period from January 2018 to July 2020. Our results show a general trend of a decrease in interest in neurological disease-related pages throughout years and especially during the burst of interest towards coronavirus. The monitoring of infodemiological indicators shall be prioritized to reshape global campaigns and tailored advocacy programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stela Rutovic
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Suska 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Inna Lutsenko
- Center for Distance Learning and Advanced Training, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy after I.K.Akhunbaev, Bishkek 720020, Kyrgyzstan;
| | - Francesco Corea
- Stroke and Neurology Unit, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, 06034 Foligno, Italy;
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Smith DA. Situating Wikipedia as a health information resource in various contexts: A scoping review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228786. [PMID: 32069322 PMCID: PMC7028268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wikipedia's health content is the most frequently visited resource for health information on the internet. While the literature provides strong evidence for its high usage, a comprehensive literature review of Wikipedia's role within the health context has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE To conduct a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed, published literature to learn what the existing body of literature says about Wikipedia as a health information resource and what publication trends exist, if any. METHODS A comprehensive literature search in OVID Medline, OVID Embase, CINAHL, LISTA, Wilson's Web, AMED, and Web of Science was performed. Through a two-stage screening process, records were excluded if: Wikipedia was not a major or exclusive focus of the article; Wikipedia was not discussed within the context of a health or medical topic; the article was not available in English, the article was irretrievable, or; the article was a letter, commentary, editorial, or popular media article. RESULTS 89 articles and conference proceedings were selected for inclusion in the review. Four categories of literature emerged: 1) studies that situate Wikipedia as a health information resource; 2) investigations into the quality of Wikipedia, 3) explorations of the utility of Wikipedia in education, and 4) studies that demonstrate the utility of Wikipedia in research. CONCLUSION The literature positions Wikipedia as a prominent health information resource in various contexts for the public, patients, students, and practitioners seeking health information online. Wikipedia's health content is accessed frequently, and its pages regularly rank highly in Google search results. While Wikipedia itself is well into its second decade, the academic discourse around Wikipedia within the context of health is still young and the academic literature is limited when attempts are made to understand Wikipedia as a health information resource. Possibilities for future research will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise A. Smith
- Health Sciences Library, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Information & Media Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Kinney MO, Brigo F. What can Google Trends and Wikipedia-Pageview analysis tell us about the landscape of epilepsy surgery over time? Epilepsy Behav 2020; 103:106533. [PMID: 31645311 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy surgery is an effective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. Some centers have noticed changes in referral patterns. AIM The aim of this study was to determine if online infodemiological data related to epilepsy surgery reflect reported changes in referrals to surgical centers. METHODS Google Trends and Pageview analysis of temporal trends of searches conducted in Google and Wikipedia for epilepsy surgery, using key search terms such as "epilepsy surgery" and terms related to pathology, operation type, and investigative practice. RESULTS Over the 15-year time period studied by Google trend analysis, when the initial three-year epoch and final three-year epoch are compared, a 56.1% decline in search volume for "epilepsy surgery" was observed. Vagus nerve stimulation and laser ablation are increasingly searched items. Pageview analysis shows that temporal lobe epilepsy remains the most commonly searched subtype of epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis was searched for more than focal cortical dysplasia. CONCLUSION This study suggests a lower search interest over time in epilepsy surgery, and various associated terms, with increased interest in vagus nerve stimulation and laser ablation procedures over time. There is no clear indication from these data regarding the apparent shift from mesial temporal cases to an increase in extratemporal case workload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Owen Kinney
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Division of Neurology, "Franz Tappeiner" Hospital, Merano, Italy
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Leveraging Google Trends, Twitter, and Wikipedia to Investigate the Impact of a Celebrity's Death From Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Clin Rheumatol 2019; 24:188-192. [PMID: 29461342 DOI: 10.1097/rhu.0000000000000692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technological advancements, such as patient-centered smartphone applications, have enabled to support self-management of the disease. Further, the accessibility to health information through the Internet has grown tremendously. This article aimed to investigate how big data can be useful to assess the impact of a celebrity's rheumatic disease on the public opinion. METHODS Variable tools and statistical/computational approaches have been used, including massive data mining of Google Trends, Wikipedia, Twitter, and big data analytics. These tools were mined using an in-house script, which facilitated the process of data collection, parsing, handling, processing, and normalization. RESULTS From Google Trends, the temporal correlation between "Anna Marchesini" and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) queries resulted 0.66 before Anna Marchesini's death and 0.90 after Anna Marchesini's death. The geospatial correlation between "Anna Marchesini" and RA queries resulted 0.45 before Anna Marchesini's death and 0.52 after Anna Marchesini's death. From Wikitrends, after Anna Marchesini's death, the number of accesses to Wikipedia page for RA has increased 5770%. From Twitter, 1979 tweets have been retrieved. Numbers of likes, retweets, and hashtags have increased throughout time. CONCLUSIONS Novel data streams and big data analytics are effective to assess the impact of a disease in a famous person on the laypeople.
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Feinstein MA, Sharp RR, Sandness DJ, Feemster JC, Junna M, Kotagal S, Lipford MC, Tippmann-Peikert M, Boeve BF, Silber MH, St Louis EK. Physician and patient determinants of prognostic counseling in idiopathic REM sleep-behavior disorder. Sleep Med 2019; 62:80-85. [PMID: 31581066 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND Prognostic counseling about the risk for developing overt neurodegenerative disorders for patients with idiopathic REM sleep-behavior disorder (iRBD) and isolated REM sleep without atonia (iRSWA) is difficult, given lack of disease-modifying interventions and uncertainty in accurate prognostication for individuals. We aimed to analyze patient and physician characteristics associated with documented prognostic discussions for patients with iRBD and iRSWA. PATIENTS/METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for 138 (112 iRBD and 26 iRSWA) patients seen at the Mayo Clinic between 2012 and 2015. We analyzed physician and patient demographics, initial complaint, and other information discussed during office visits. We then comparatively analyzed the impact of physician and patient characteristics on documented prognostic discussions using Chi Square or Fischer's exact test. RESULTS Mean iRBD patient age was 65.0 ± 13.0, and mean iRSWA age was 58 ± 15 years. Seventy-eight (69.6%) iRBD and 22 (84.6%) iRSWA patients were men. Sixty-two (55%) iRBD and three (12%) iRSWA patients received prognostic counseling about phenoconversion risk. iRBD was a secondary complaint in 67 (59.8%). Patients over age 60 years and those having iRBD as a chief complaint more frequently received prognostic discussions than those with opposite characteristics (all p < 0.05). Patient sex and antidepressant use were not associated with counseling. Sleep neurologists disclosed prognostic information most frequently, with male more likely than female clinicians to disclose prognoses. CONCLUSIONS Several patient and physician characteristics appear to influence documented prognostic counseling for iRBD/RSWA patients. Future studies of iRBD/RSWA patients' preferences are needed to clarify ethically appropriate physician-patient communication concerning prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max A Feinstein
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Biomedical Ethics Research Program, USA; University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, USA
| | - Richard R Sharp
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David J Sandness
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, USA
| | - John C Feemster
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, USA
| | - Mithri Junna
- Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Suresh Kotagal
- Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, USA
| | - Melissa C Lipford
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Maja Tippmann-Peikert
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Bradley F Boeve
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Michael H Silber
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Erik K St Louis
- Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, USA; Biomedical Ethics Research Program, USA; Department of Neurology, USA; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
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Brigo F, Lattanzi S, Kinney MO, Bragazzi NL, Tassi L, Nardone R, Mecarelli O. Online behavior of people visiting a scientific website on epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 90:79-83. [PMID: 30522058 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the online behavior of Internet users consulting the website of the Italian Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy (Lega Italiana Contro l'Epilessia [LICE]). We obtained the visualization statistics of the LICE website using AWStats (https://awstats.sourceforge.io/) and Google Trends (https://trends.google.com/trends/), and compared the statistics of years 2010, 2014, and 2017. The following variables were analyzed: number of unique visitors and visits, visit duration, the day of week and rush hours, most downloaded documents, most viewed pages, keyphrases and keywords used for online searches, origins of searches, and geographic trends of Google searches related to the LICE. The total numbers of unique visitors, visits and page views remained quite stable over time. Most visits (70 to 76.7%) lasted less than 30 s. The most frequent keyphrases and keywords used for online searches were related to clinical guidelines and driving license. Among the most frequently downloaded documents were general guides on epilepsy. The pages with the list of epilepsy centers endorsed by the LICE and those with the list of LICE guidelines were among those most frequently viewed, together with educational videos. Most users directly accessed the website without being referred from external links. No information on geographic origin of Google searches was available. The visualization statistics suggested two distinct populations of visitors. The first one is likely represented by physicians who seek specialist information on diagnosis and management of epilepsy, including guidelines. The second population is represented by lay people who seek accessible and easily comprehensible information to better understand epilepsy and know which centers are best for its management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Hospital Franz Tappeiner, Department of Neurology, Merano, Italy.
| | - Simona Lattanzi
- Marche Polytechnic University, Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Ancona, Italy
| | - Michael O Kinney
- Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, County Antrim, UK
| | - Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- School of Public Health, University of Genoa, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Tassi
- Niguarda Hospital, 'Claudio Munari' Epilepsy Surgery Centre, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaele Nardone
- Hospital Franz Tappeiner, Department of Neurology, Merano, Italy; Paracelsus Medical University, Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Oriano Mecarelli
- 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Human Neuroscience Department, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Nowadays, the Internet is the major source to obtain information about diseases and their treatments. The Internet is gaining relevance in the neurological setting, considering the possibility of timely social interaction, contributing to general public awareness on otherwise less-well-known neurological conditions, promoting health equity and improving the health-related coping. Neurological patients can easily find several online opportunities for peer interactions and learning. On the other hand, neurologist can analyze user-generated data to better understand patient needs and to run epidemiological studies. Indeed, analyses of queries from Internet search engines on certain neurological diseases have shown a strict temporal and spatial correlation with the "real world." In this narrative review, we will discuss how the Internet is radically affecting the healthcare of people with neurological disorders and, most importantly, is shifting the paradigm of care from the hands of those who deliver care, into the hands of those who receive it. Besides, we will review possible limitations, such as safety concerns, financial issues, and the need for easy-to-access platforms.
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Sciascia S, Radin M. What can Google and Wikipedia can tell us about a disease? Big Data trends analysis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Int J Med Inform 2017; 107:65-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Baeza-Yates R, Sangal PM, Villoslada P. Burden of neurological diseases in the US revealed by web searches. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178019. [PMID: 28531237 PMCID: PMC5439713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Analyzing the disease-related web searches of Internet users provides insight into the interests of the general population as well as the healthcare industry, which can be used to shape health care policies. Methods We analyzed the searches related to neurological diseases and drugs used in neurology using the most popular search engines in the US, Google and Bing/Yahoo. Results We found that the most frequently searched diseases were common diseases such as dementia or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as medium frequency diseases with high social impact such as Parkinson’s disease, MS and ALS. The most frequently searched CNS drugs were generic drugs used for pain, followed by sleep disorders, dementia, ADHD, stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Regarding the interests of the healthcare industry, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, MS, ALS, meningitis, and hypersomnia received the higher advertising bids for neurological diseases, while painkillers and drugs for neuropathic pain, drugs for dementia or insomnia, and triptans had the highest advertising bidding prices. Conclusions Web searches reflect the interest of people and the healthcare industry, and are based either on the frequency or social impact of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pablo Villoslada
- University of California of San Francisco, San Francisco, United States of America
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: ,
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Bragazzi NL, Dini G, Toletone A, Brigo F, Durando P. Leveraging Big Data for Exploring Occupational Diseases-Related Interest at the Level of Scientific Community, Media Coverage and Novel Data Streams: The Example of Silicosis as a Pilot Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166051. [PMID: 27806115 PMCID: PMC5091866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Silicosis is an untreatable but preventable occupational disease, caused by exposure to silica. It can progressively evolve to lung impairment, respiratory failure and death, even after exposure has ceased. However, little is known about occupational diseases-related interest at the level of scientific community, media coverage and web behavior. This article aims at filling in this gap of knowledge, taking the silicosis as a case study. Methods We investigated silicosis-related web-activities using Google Trends (GT) for capturing the Internet behavior worldwide in the years 2004–2015. GT-generated data were, then, compared with the silicosis-related scientific production (i.e., PubMed and Google Scholar), the media coverage (i.e., Google news), the Wikipedia traffic (i.e, Wikitrends) and the usage of new media (i.e., YouTube and Twitter). Results A peak in silicosis-related web searches was noticed in 2010–2011: interestingly, both scientific articles production and media coverage markedly increased after these years in a statistically significant way. The public interest and the level of the public engagement were witnessed by an increase in likes, comments, hashtags, and re-tweets. However, it was found that only a small fraction of the posted/uploaded material contained accurate scientific information. Conclusions GT could be useful to assess the reaction of the public and the level of public engagement both to novel risk-factors associated to occupational diseases, and possibly related changes in disease natural history, and to the effectiveness of preventive workplace practices and legislative measures adopted to improve occupational health. Further, occupational clinicians should become aware of the topics most frequently searched by patients and proactively address these concerns during the medical examination. Institutional bodies and organisms should be more present and active in digital tools and media to disseminate and communicate scientifically accurate information. This manuscript should be intended as preliminary, exploratory communication, paving the way for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Department of Health Sciences, Postgraduate School of Public Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Dini
- Department of Health Sciences, Postgraduate School in Occupational Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Alessandra Toletone
- Department of Health Sciences, Postgraduate School in Occupational Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy
- Department of Neurological, Biomedical, and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Durando
- Department of Health Sciences, Postgraduate School in Occupational Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Occupational Medicine Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
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Okumura A, Abe S, Kurahashi H, Takasu M, Ikeno M, Nakazawa M, Igarashi A, Shimizu T. Worsening of attitudes toward epilepsy following less influential media coverage of epilepsy-related car accidents: An infodemiological approach. Epilepsy Behav 2016; 64:206-211. [PMID: 27744246 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate changes in the attitudes of nonmedical university students toward epilepsy in 2015, the present study compared the results of questionnaire surveys from four different time periods: before media coverage of epilepsy-related car accidents (2008-2010), during a period of abundant media coverage (2011-2012), after media coverage (2013-2014), and after novel media coverage (2015). The nonmedical students that completed the questionnaire were divided into four groups: 2008-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2015. The rates of students that had read or heard about epilepsy decreased significantly in 2015 compared with those in 2013-2014. Attitudes toward epilepsy had also worsened in 2015. The rates of students that would not oppose their children playing with or attending school alongside children with epilepsy and those who thought that people with epilepsy should be hired in the same way as other people had decreased significantly in 2015 compared with those in 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. Analyses of information-seeking behavior on the Internet showed that the increase in Google search volume and Wikipedia page views was much less in 2015 than in 2011 and 2012. These findings suggest that familiarity with epilepsy had worsened even after media coverage of novel epilepsy-related car accidents. This suggests that media coverage in 2015 was less influential than that in 2011 and 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihisa Okumura
- Department of Pediatrics, Aichi Medical University, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
| | - Shinpei Abe
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
| | | | | | - Mitsuru Ikeno
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
| | - Mika Nakazawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
| | - Ayuko Igarashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Shimizu
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
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Moccia M, Carotenuto A, Massarelli M, Lanzillo R, Brescia Morra V. Can people with multiple sclerosis actually understand what they read in the Internet age? J Clin Neurosci 2016; 25:167-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Why do people google movement disorders? An infodemiological study of information seeking behaviors. Neurol Sci 2016; 37:781-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-016-2501-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Bragazzi NL, Bacigaluppi S, Robba C, Nardone R, Trinka E, Brigo F. Infodemiology of status epilepticus: A systematic validation of the Google Trends-based search queries. Epilepsy Behav 2016; 55:120-3. [PMID: 26773681 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
People increasingly use Google looking for health-related information. We previously demonstrated that in English-speaking countries most people use this search engine to obtain information on status epilepticus (SE) definition, types/subtypes, and treatment. Now, we aimed at providing a quantitative analysis of SE-related web queries. This analysis represents an advancement, with respect to what was already previously discussed, in that the Google Trends (GT) algorithm has been further refined and correlational analyses have been carried out to validate the GT-based query volumes. Google Trends-based SE-related query volumes were well correlated with information concerning causes and pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. Google Trends can provide both researchers and clinicians with data on realities and contexts that are generally overlooked and underexplored by classic epidemiology. In this way, GT can foster new epidemiological studies in the field and can complement traditional epidemiological tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Robba
- Neurosciences Critical Care Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK; Brain Physics Lab, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Raffaele Nardone
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy
| | - Eugen Trinka
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Public Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall i.T., Austria
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy; Department of Neurological, Biomedical, and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy.
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