Google Medical Update: Why Is the Search Engine Decreasing Visibility of Health and Medical Information Websites?

Google Search Trends to Assess Public Interest and Concern About Pegcetacoplan for the Treatment of Geographic Atrophy

OBJECTIVE

To assess global trends in interest surrounding the newly Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for geographic atrophy, (GA), Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), and related searches.

METHODS

We utilized Google Trends, in order to gauge the public interest in Syfovre from October 16, 2022, to October 8, 2023.

RESULTS

Notable spikes in relative search volumes (RSV)s for "Syfovre" were observed in mid-to-late February 2023, and in March and April 2023, coinciding with the drug's FDA approval and introduction to the market. Of the various side effects, retinal vasculitis garnered the most significant attention, with a sharp rise in RSV in mid-July 2023. Geographic variation was evident, with the highest RSVs for "Syfovre" originating from users on the East Coast.

CONCLUSION

Google Trends proves to be a useful tool for gaining insight into public interest in pegcetacoplan as a treatment for GA. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:452-460.].

Tracking Chinese Online Activity and Interest in Osteoporosis Using the Baidu Index

Introduction China's most widely used online search engine, Baidu (Baidu, Inc., Beijing, China), has developed a data collection and analysis tool called the Baidu Index for tracking Internet search trends. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Baidu Index in tracking online osteoporosis information-seeking behavior and comprehending the traits and concerns of the Chinese population. Methods We used the search term "osteoporosis" for the Baidu Index for the years 2018-2022. The geographic and demographic distributions, search volumes, and demand maps were recorded. Results The popularity of the search term "osteoporosis" has increased over time. The search was mostly conducted among women aged 20-39 in northern China. The demand map revealed that the most significant concerns are related to the diagnosis, treatment, and etiology of osteoporosis. Conclusion The Baidu Index is a valuable tool for tracking online health information-seeking behavior among Chinese netizens. Online search trend data appears to reflect the geographic and demographic aspects of osteoporosis to a certain extent.

Maximum generable interest: A universal standard for Google Trends search queries

The coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic represents a health event with far-reaching global consequences, triggering a strong search interest in related topics on the Internet worldwide. The use of search engine data has become commonplace in research, but a universal standard for comparing different works is desirable to simplify the comparison. The coronavirus pandemic's enormous impact and media coverage have triggered an exceptionally high search interest. Consequently, the maximum generable interest (MGI) on coronavirus is proposed as a universal reference for objectifying and comparing relative search interest in the future. This search interest can be explored with search engine data such as Google Trends data. Additional standards for medium and low search volumes can also be used to reflect the search interest of topics at different levels. Size standards, such as reference to MGI, may help make research more comparable and better evaluate relative search volumes. This study presents a framework for this purpose using the example of stroke.

Brave New Healthcare: A Narrative Review of Digital Healthcare in American Medicine

The digital revolution has had a profound effect on American and global healthcare, which was accelerated by the pandemic and telehealth applications. Digital health also includes popular and more esoteric forms of wearable monitoring systems and interscatter and other wireless technologies that facilitate their telemetry. The rise in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) may serve to improve interpretation from imaging technologies to electrocardiography or electroencephalographic tracings, and new ML techniques may allow these systems to scan data to discern and contextualize patterns that may have evaded human physicians. The necessity of virtual care during the pandemic has morphed into new treatment paradigms, which have gained patient acceptance but still raise issues with respect to privacy laws and credentialing. Augmented and virtual reality tools can facilitate surgical planning and "hands-on" clinical training activities. Patients are working with new frontiers in digital health in the form of "Dr. Google" and patient support websites to learn or share medical information. Patient-facing digital health information is both a blessing and curse, in that it can be a boon to health-literate patients who seek to be more active in their own care. On the other hand, digital health information can lead to false conclusions, catastrophizing, misunderstandings, and "cyberchondria." The role of blockchain, familiar from cryptocurrency, may play a role in future healthcare information and would serve as a disruptive, decentralizing, and potentially beneficial change. These important changes are both exciting and perplexing as clinicians and their patients learn to navigate this new system and how we address the questions it raises, such as medical privacy in a digital age. The goal of this review is to explore the vast range of digital health and how it may impact the healthcare system.

UK esthetics associations: A robust safety net or credibility accessories?

BACKGROUND

Currently, safe practice in the UK esthetics industry is largely reliant on self-regulatory bodies. If these bodies do not maintain high standards of safety guidelines and properly accredit practitioners, patient safety may be at risk. To our knowledge, no studies have addressed cosmetic self-regulatory bodies and their websites on Google, the most commonly used information source. This study aimed to map self-regulatory bodies on Google and evaluate their roles in the current UK esthetics industry.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic search of Google Search results using eight search terms. The first 100 search results were screened against our eligibility criteria. We searched each website of a self-regulatory body for their requirements to join registers, membership fees, and features listed on the UK government's criteria for an effective self-regulatory body.

RESULTS

We identified 22 self-regulating bodies for the UK esthetics industry. Only 15% of registers required an in-person assessment of cosmetic skills to qualify for membership. Of the self-regulatory bodies, 65% did not set clear standards and guidelines for practice. No qualifications were required by 14% of surgical and 31% of non-surgical bodies. The mean membership fee was £331.

CONCLUSION

This study uncovered important information about the self-regulation of the esthetics industry in the UK. A significant majority of self-regulatory bodies did not meet best practices, potentially putting patients at risk. We recommend further studies screening a higher number of pages in a Google Search to scope all other existing self-regulatory bodies, due to the creation of Google "filter bubbles."

Google SEO score and accessibility rank on the American University Libraries’ websites: one comparative analysis

Purpose

This study aims to present a comparative study of university library websites (in the USA) from the standpoint of “Google SEO” and “Accessibility”. Furthermore, correlation analysis between these two done.

Design/methodology/approach

By opting for a webometric approach, the present study analyzed university library websites in the USA. The Lighthouse add-on for the Google Chrome browser has been used as a data collection tool, by writing and implementing a computer program in Bash language automatically (May 2020). Data analysis tools used were “Libre-Office-Calc”, “SPSS22” and “Excel”.

Findings

In all 81 university library websites in the USA, Google search engine optimization (SEO) scores have been observed the amount higher than 60 (Total Score = 100). The accessibility rank obtained lay between 0.56 and 1 (Total Score = 1). A weak correlation relationship between “SEO score” and “accessibility rank” (P-value = 0.02, Spearman Correlation Coefficient = 0.345) was observed. This weak relationship can be explained due to the impact of several components affecting Google’s SEO score, one of them being having a high “accessibility rank”.

Practical implications

Given the increasing automation of library processes, SEO tools can help libraries in achieving their digital marketing goals.

Originality/value

Accurate measurement of the Google SEO score and accessibility rank for the university library websites (in the USA) were obtained by Lighthouse add-on for Google Chrome browser. Moreover, data extraction by the implementation of one program computer without the direct observation of human resources is the innovation of this study.

Search engine optimization (SEO) for digital marketers: exploring determinants of online search visibility for blood bank service

Purpose

Given that online search visibility is influenced by various determinants, and that influence may vary across industries, this study aims in investigating the major predictors of online search visibility in the context of blood banks.

Design/methodology/approach

To formalize the online visibility, the authors have found theoretical foundations in activity theory, while to quantify online visiblity the authors have used the search engine optimization (SEO) Index, ranking, and a number of visitors. The examined model includes ten hypotheses and was tested on data from 57 blood banks.

Findings

Results challenge shallow domain knowledge. The major predictors of online search visibility are Alternative Text Attribute (ALT) text, backlinks, robots, domain authority (DA) and bounce rate (BR). The issues are related to the number of backlinks, social score, and DA. Polarized utilization of SEO techniques is evident.

Practical implications

The methodology can be used to analyze the online search visibility of other industries or similar not-for-profit organizations. Findings in terms of individual predictors can be useful for marketers to better manage online search visibility.

Social implications

The acute blood donation problems may be to a certain degree level as the information flow between donors and blood banks will be facilitated.

Originality/value

This is the first study to analyze the blood bank context. The results provide invaluable inputs to marketers, managers, and policymakers.

Engaging Parents of Fragile Infants in the Design and Appraisal of Health Literature: An Español Toolkit for Necrotizing Enterocolitis

WHAT WAS OBSERVED OR INVESTIGATED

The increased morbidity of diverse infants is unacceptable, and methods to reduce necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in their communities are needed. This article discusses the importance of the Español toolkit; provides a backstory of how the Español toolkit came about and how it was verified and validated; and concludes with impressions from involving parents in the research process.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

After research evidence was translated from English into Spanish, a cross-sectional exploratory, descriptive, mixed-methods study was conducted, guided by the knowledge translation into practice (Translating Research Into Practice [TRIP]) framework. Twenty bilingual English-Spanish parents of fragile infants evaluated the NEC-Zero Español toolkit from a single neonatal intensive care unit.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The NEC-Zero Español toolkit was found to be easy-to-use and useful and provided information that can be used to augment information sharing. Having access to health information offers a meaningful way to start a conversation and may even impact positive behaviors such as breastfeeding promotion. To lessen Spanish speakers' linguistic barriers, providing materials in Spanish can help meet their information needs and initiate conversations with healthcare providers. This is particularly important because Hispanic infants are at high risk for NEC.

Malaysian Public Interest in Common Medical Problems: A 10-Year Google Trends Analysis

Background

An analysis of internet search has been performed to evaluate the public interest in health problems. Google Trends (GT) serves as a free platform to analyse the search traffic for specific terms in the Google search engine. This observational study aims to investigate the trend of Malaysian population in using the Google search engine on common medical problems and explore the geographical influence on the language used.

Material and method

Fifteen pairs of keywords, in Malay and English language, were chosen after going through forward and backward translation and vetting by a panel of experts. GT data for the selected keywords from 1st of January 2011 to 31st of December 2020 was extracted. Trend analysis was performed using paired t-test between the first half of the decade and the second half of the decade. The different languages used were analysed based on geographical variation using paired t-test.

Results

The public interest on those keywords was markedly increased in the second half of the decade with 29 out of 30 keywords showing statistically significant difference. Majority of the states preferred to use Malay keywords, especially those residing at the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Conclusion

This observational study illustrates the ability of GT to track healthcare interest among Malaysian population. GT provides a good platform to analyse specific healthcare interest in Malaysian population, but investigators have to bear in mind the geographical influence on the language used.

Patient-Focused Websites Related to Postpartum Pelvic Floor Health: A DISCERN Quality Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of patient-focused websites addressing postpartum pelvic floor health.

METHODS

The Google search engine was used to perform a search of the following 3 terms: (1) "postpartum pelvic floor (PPF)," (2) "postpartum leaking urine (PLU)," and (3) "postpartum leaking stool (PLS)." The top 20 results from each search term were evaluated using the DISCERN quality appraisal tool and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria by 2 independent researchers. Websites were also categorized by type. Cohen κ was performed to determine interrater reliability between reviewers. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the differences in DISCERN and JAMA criteria scores.

RESULTS

The weighted mean κ between the investigators for each search term was κ = 0.47 (range = 0.163 [PPF] to 0.759 [PLU]), suggesting moderate agreement between reviewers. There was a significant difference in mean DISCERN scores between the terms, with "postpartum leaking urine" yielding the highest mean score. When comparing DISCERN scores by category, society- and government-sponsored websites (mean = 55 ± 13) scored significantly higher than other categories. Using JAMA criteria, mean scores ranged between 1.83 and 2.83/4, but there were no significant differences between websites.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall quality of health information available on the internet regarding postpartum pelvic health is low. Higher-quality search results are found within society- and government-sponsored websites as well as under the search term "postpartum leaking urine." It is important for health care providers to guide their patients to websites with reliable information about postpartum pelvic floor recovery.

Preferences for Accessing Medical Information in the Digital Age: Health Care Professional Survey

BACKGROUND

Health care professionals (HCPs) routinely have questions concerning the medications they are recommending. There are numerous resources available; however, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this survey was to gain knowledge of the preferred methods and sources HCPs use to obtain information concerning medications.

METHODS

A total of 511 HCPs (202 physicians, 105 pharmacists, 100 advance practice nurses, 53 registered nurses, and 51 physician assistants) were surveyed through a third-party market research firm. All participants were practicing in the United States. Individuals working for a pharmaceutical company were excluded. The survey collected demographics, frequency of searching medical information, types of questions searched, sources of medical information, and rationale for preferred and nonpreferred sources of medical information. Use of medical information resources were rated on a 5-point ordinal scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Of the 511 respondents, 88.5% (452/511) searched for medical information either daily or several times per week. The most common questions involved dosing and administration, drug-drug interactions, adverse events and safety, clinical practice guidelines, and disease state information. The main rationale for using specific medical websites or apps and general online search engines frequently or very frequently was ease of use (medical websites or apps: 269/356, 75.6%; general online search engines: 248/284, 87.3%). Accuracy was the main rationale for frequent or very frequent use of medical literature search databases (163/245, 66.5%), prescribing labels or information (122/213, 57.3%), and professional literature (120/195, 61.5%). The main reason for rarely or never using specific medical websites or apps and medical literature search databases was unfamiliarity (medical websites or apps: 16/48, 33%; medical literature search databases: 35/78, 45%); for general online search engines, inaccuracy (34/54, 63%); and for prescribing labels or information and professional literature, excessive time (prescribing labels or information : 54/102, 52.9%; professional literature: 66/106, 62.3%). The pharmaceutical company was sometimes used as a resource for medical information. When the medical information department was used, the call center and the website were considered thorough and complete (call center: 14/25, 56%; website: 33/55, 60%). However, the rationale for not using the call center was the time required (199/346, 57.5%) and the website being unfamiliar (129/267, 48.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The driving forces in the selection of resources are accuracy and ease of use. There is an opportunity to increase awareness of all the appropriate resources for HCPs which may aid in their daily clinical decisions. Specifically, pharmaceutical company medical information departments can help fulfill this need by addressing two major challenges with use of the pharmaceutical company: lack of awareness of medical information services and the speed at which responses are disseminated. Overall, there is lack of understanding or appreciation of the range of pathways to obtain published information and knowledge from pharmaceutical company medical information services. Among the many challenges resource champions will face are the ability to effectively make resources and their platforms accessible, known, and useful to the scientific community.

Seasonality of Back Pain in Italy: An Infodemiology Study

BACKGROUND

E-health tools have been used to assess the temporal variations of different health problems. The aim of our infodemiology study was to investigate the seasonal pattern of search volumes for back pain in Italy.

METHODS

In Italian, back pain is indicated by the medical word "lombalgia". Using Google Trends, we selected the three search terms related to "lombalgia" with higher relative search volumes (RSV), (namely, "mal di schiena", "dolore alla schiena" and "dolore lombare"), representing the semantic preferences of users when performing web queries for back pain in Italy. Wikipedia page view statistics were used to identify the number of visits to the page "lombalgia". Strength and direction of secular trends were assessed using the Mann-Kendall test. Cosinor analysis was used to evaluate the potential seasonality of back pain-related RSV.

RESULTS

We found a significant upward secular trend from 2005 to 2020 for search terms "mal di schiena" (τ = 0.734, p < 0.0001), "dolore alla schiena" (τ = 0.713, p < 0.0001) and "dolore lombare" (τ = 0.628, p < 0.0001). Cosinor analysis on Google Trends RSV showed a significant seasonality for the terms "mal di schiena" (p_cos < 0.001), "dolore alla schiena" (p_cos < 0.0001), "dolore lombare" (p_cos < 0.0001) and "lombalgia" (p_cos = 0.017). Cosinor analysis performed on views for the page "lombalgia" in Wikipedia confirmed a significant seasonality (p_cos < 0.0001). Both analyses demonstrated a peak of interest in winter months and decrease in spring/summer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our infodemiology approach revealed significant seasonal fluctuations in search queries for back pain in Italy, with peaking volumes during the coldest months of the year.

Using the Google™ Search Engine for Health Information: Is There a Problem? Case Study: Supplements for Cancer

We assessed the quality of online health and nutrition information using a Google™ search on "supplements for cancer". Search results were scored using the Health Information Quality Index (HIQI), a quality-rating tool consisting of 12 objective criteria related to website domain, lack of commercial aspects, and authoritative nature of the health and nutrition information provided. Possible scores ranged from 0 (lowest) to 12 ("perfect" or highest quality). After eliminating irrelevant results, the remaining 160 search results had median and mean scores of 8. One-quarter of the results were of high quality (score of 10-12). There was no correlation between high-quality scores and early appearance in the sequence of search results, where results are presumably more visible. Also, 496 advertisements, over twice the number of search results, appeared. We conclude that the Google™ search engine may have shortcomings when used to obtain information on dietary supplements and cancer.

What is the UK Public Searching for? A Correlation Analysis of Google Trends Search Terms and Cosmetic Surgery in the UK

Introduction

Search engine optimisation (SEO) in plastic surgery practice is crucial for increasing web traffic. Knowing what patients are searching for online can help plastic surgeons understand public interest, enhance patient engagement, and improve service provision. This study analyses the correlation between Google Trends (GT) search activity and the number of cosmetic procedures carried out in the UK.

Methods

GT search term data were analysed for popularity of use and geographical variation in the UK. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to analyse GT data against the number of cosmetic surgery procedures undertaken in the UK in the corresponding year and with 1-year time lag.

Results

GT score was higher for most colloquial search terms, such as “tummy tuck” compared to “abdominoplasty” (GT score 59 vs 6), but “otoplasty” was higher than “ear correction” (GT score 55 vs 19). Geographical variation showed that London ranked first in proportional search term activity for “brow lift” and Birmingham for “tummy tuck”. There was statistically significant positive correlation for three search terms and the number of corresponding surgeries undertaken. This increased to nine search terms when analysed with a 1-year time lag.

Conclusion

These results highlight the trends in online search activity in the UK and their correlation with cosmetic procedures. The higher number of significant correlations with 1-year time lag may reflect the patient’s decision-making journey to undergo cosmetic surgery. These results can be utilised for SEO, thus leading to a better-informed public and more robust practice building.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Availability of COVID-19 Information from National and International Aesthetic Surgery Society Websites

Background

National and international aesthetic surgery society websites are an important source of information for patients and aesthetic surgeons. The current COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented global health crisis. The aim of this study was to assess the information available on national and international aesthetic surgery society websites on the current pandemic of COVID-19.

Methods

National and international aesthetic surgery society websites were assessed with regard to COVID-19 information.

Results

Thirty-one per cent of nations had aesthetic surgery society websites. Twenty-two per cent of national society websites had a specific COVID-19 section. Seventeen per cent of these websites had COVID-19-specific guidelines available; of these websites with guidelines, 77% had a specific COVID-19 section advising to provide only urgent or emergent care and 46% provided their sovereign state’s directives to provide only urgent or emergent care. Two international aesthetic surgery society websites had COVID-19-specific guidelines, and one of the two had significant educational resources.

Conclusion

The availability of COVID-19 clinical guidelines and patient information sheets on national plastic surgery society websites is sparse. In contrast, one international society website carefully analysed national and international recommendations and guidelines and made general recommendations for its members with regularly updated resources. This study suggests that improvement and increase in COVID-19 information provided by many national aesthetic surgery society websites may be improved by links to the ISAPS website.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

The Future of TV Advertising Targeting Young Slovak Consumers

The consumer preferences and behavior should be considered with the purpose to implement marketing strategies in today's world successfully. It is crucial to understand how consumers find information and how the consumer decision-making process develops in time. Therefore, for advertisers, considering the behavior of their target audience is of paramount importance. Integrated marketing communication programs reflect the way online search and traditional and new media, such as smartphones, TV, and social media, influence consumer decision-making. Young consumers, often referred to as generations Y and Z, are very different from previous generations in terms of multimedia content consumption and their perception of television advertising. This paper aims at providing insights into this behavior, including actions that follow-up as a response to television advertising. Results of a quantitative study performed on a sample of 135 university students from Slovakia using a six-component behavior explanation model. The results reveal that it still can be beneficial to include television advertisements in the communication mix aimed at these young consumers. The investments in TV advertising campaigns could pay off. The advertisers and their agencies should respect the role of high search visibility in this process. In this case, the messages contained in TV advertisements have the potential to influence the purchasing behavior of young consumers. Thanks to achieving top ranking for the relevant brand, product, and campaign-related keywords, communication campaigns can become truly integrated. Thus, the component of search visibility directly influences the efficiency of marketing communication, contributing to enhanced business performance. Suggestions towards the optimization of the delivery of communication campaigns featuring TV advertising should target these consumers are presented based on the generated knowledge about their attitude towards and consumption of TV ads and subsequent behaviors. Keywords: consumer behavior, information research, integrated marketing communication, search visibility, television advertising, Slovakia.