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Sasse K, Mahabir R, Gkountouna O, Crooks A, Croitoru A. Understanding the determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the United States: A comparison of social surveys and social media. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301488. [PMID: 38843170 PMCID: PMC11156396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted governments worldwide to implement a range of containment measures, including mass gathering restrictions, social distancing, and school closures. Despite these efforts, vaccines continue to be the safest and most effective means of combating such viruses. Yet, vaccine hesitancy persists, posing a significant public health concern, particularly with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants. To effectively address this issue, timely data is crucial for understanding the various factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. While previous research has largely relied on traditional surveys for this information, recent sources of data, such as social media, have gained attention. However, the potential of social media data as a reliable proxy for information on population hesitancy, especially when compared with survey data, remains underexplored. This paper aims to bridge this gap. Our approach uses social, demographic, and economic data to predict vaccine hesitancy levels in the ten most populous US metropolitan areas. We employ machine learning algorithms to compare a set of baseline models that contain only these variables with models that incorporate survey data and social media data separately. Our results show that XGBoost algorithm consistently outperforms Random Forest and Linear Regression, with marginal differences between Random Forest and XGBoost. This was especially the case with models that incorporate survey or social media data, thus highlighting the promise of the latter data as a complementary information source. Results also reveal variations in influential variables across the five hesitancy classes, such as age, ethnicity, occupation, and political inclination. Further, the application of models to different MSAs yields mixed results, emphasizing the uniqueness of communities and the need for complementary data approaches. In summary, this study underscores social media data's potential for understanding vaccine hesitancy, emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to specific communities, and suggests the value of combining different data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuleen Sasse
- Department of Computer Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ron Mahabir
- Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Olga Gkountouna
- Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Crooks
- Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Arie Croitoru
- Department of Computational and Data Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Basile G, Agodi A. Public and Research Interest in Telemedicine From 2017 to 2022: Infodemiology Study of Google Trends Data and Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Literature. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e50088. [PMID: 38753427 PMCID: PMC11140276 DOI: 10.2196/50088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telemedicine offers a multitude of potential advantages, such as enhanced health care accessibility, cost reduction, and improved patient outcomes. The significance of telemedicine has been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it plays a crucial role in maintaining uninterrupted care while minimizing the risk of viral exposure. However, the adoption and implementation of telemedicine have been relatively sluggish in certain areas. Assessing the level of interest in telemedicine can provide valuable insights into areas that require enhancement. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the level of public and research interest in telemedicine from 2017 to 2022 and also consider any potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Google Trends data were retrieved using the search topics "telemedicine" or "e-health" to assess public interest, geographic distribution, and trends through a joinpoint regression analysis. Bibliographic data from Scopus were used to chart publications referencing the terms "telemedicine" or "eHealth" (in the title, abstract, and keywords) in terms of scientific production, key countries, and prominent keywords, as well as collaboration and co-occurrence networks. RESULTS Worldwide, telemedicine generated higher mean public interest (relative search volume=26.3%) compared to eHealth (relative search volume=17.6%). Interest in telemedicine remained stable until January 2020, experienced a sudden surge (monthly percent change=95.7%) peaking in April 2020, followed by a decline (monthly percent change=-22.7%) until August 2020, and then returned to stability. A similar trend was noted in the public interest regarding eHealth. Chile, Australia, Canada, and the United States had the greatest public interest in telemedicine. In these countries, moderate to strong correlations were evident between Google Trends and COVID-19 data (ie, new cases, new deaths, and hospitalized patients). Examining 19,539 original medical articles in the Scopus database unveiled a substantial rise in telemedicine-related publications, showing a total increase of 201.5% from 2017 to 2022 and an average annual growth rate of 24.7%. The most significant surge occurred between 2019 and 2020. Notably, the majority of the publications originated from a single country, with 20.8% involving international coauthorships. As the most productive country, the United States led a cluster that included Canada and Australia as well. European, Asian, and Latin American countries made up the remaining 3 clusters. The co-occurrence network categorized prevalent keywords into 2 clusters, the first cluster primarily focused on applying eHealth, mobile health (mHealth), or digital health to noncommunicable or chronic diseases; the second cluster was centered around the application of telemedicine and telehealth within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis of search and bibliographic data over time and across regions allows us to gauge the interest in this topic, offer evidence regarding potential applications, and pinpoint areas for additional research and awareness-raising initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Guido Basile
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Mehra M, Brody PA, Kollapaneni SS, Sakhalkar O, Rahimi S. Evaluating the Quality, Readability, and Activity of Online Information on Brain Arteriovenous Malformations. Cureus 2023; 15:e45984. [PMID: 37900528 PMCID: PMC10601510 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45984] [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] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are vascular deformities created by improper connections between arteries and veins, most commonly in the brain and spinal cord. The management is complex and patient-dependent; further understanding of patient education activities is imperative. Internet access has become more ubiquitous, allowing patients to utilize a large database of medical information online. Using Google Trends (GT) (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA), one can see the public interest in a particular topic over time. Further, when presented with numerous search results, patients may not be able to identify the highest-yielding resources, making objective measures of information quality and readability imperative. Methods A GT analysis was conducted for "hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia," "cerebral aneurysm," and "arteriovenous malformation". These relative search volumes (RSV) were compared with the 2017 to 2019 annual USA AVM diagnosis quantity for correlation. These RSVs were also compared with the 2017 to 2019 annual USA deaths due to cerebral hemorrhagic conditions. One search was conducted for "brain arteriovenous malformation". Since most users looking for health information online use only the first page of sources, the quality and readability analyses were limited to the first page of results on Google search. Five quality tools and six readability formulas were used. Results Pearson's correlation coefficients showed positive correlations between USA AVM RSVs and annual AVM deaths per capita from 2017 to 2019 (R2=0.932). The AVM annual diagnosis quantity and AVM RSVs showed a strong positive correlation as well (R2=0.998). Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and cerebral aneurysms had strong positive correlations between their RSVs and their corresponding annual diagnoses in the 2017 to 2019 time period (R2=0.982, R2=0.709). One-way ANOVA, for USA's 2004 to 2021 AVM RSVs and 2004 to 2019 deaths per capita, displayed no month-specific statistically significant repeating pattern (all p>0.483). The DISCERN tool had four websites that qualified as "poor" and five as "good." The average score for the tool was "good." The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark scores were very low on average, as four websites achieved zero points. There was a wide variance in the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose (CRAAP) scores, indicating an inconsistent level of webpage reliability across results. The patient education materials assessment tool (PEMAT) understandability (86.6%) showed much higher scores than the PEMAT actionability (54.6%). No readability score averaged at or below the American Medical Association (AMA)-recommended sixth-grade reading level. Conclusion These GT correlations may be due to patients and families with new diagnoses researching those same conditions online. The seasonality results reflect that no prior research has detected seasonality for AVM diagnosis or presentation. The quality study showed a wide variance in website ethics, treatment information quality, website/author qualifications, and actionable next steps regarding AVMs. Overall, this study showed that patients are routinely attempting to access information regarding these intracranial conditions, but the information available, specifically regarding AVMs, is not routinely reliable and the reading level required to understand them is too high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehul Mehra
- Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, USA
| | - Pierce A Brody
- Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, USA
| | | | - Om Sakhalkar
- Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, USA
| | - Scott Rahimi
- Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, USA
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De Brabandere L, Hendrickx G, Poels K, Daelemans W, Van Damme P, Maertens K. Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and social media on the behaviour of pregnant and lactating women towards vaccination: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066367. [PMID: 36764726 PMCID: PMC9922880 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women, foetuses and infants are at risk of infectious disease-related complications. Maternal vaccination is a strategy developed to better protect pregnant women and their offspring against infectious disease-related morbidity and mortality. Vaccines against influenza, pertussis and recently also COVID-19 are widely recommended for pregnant women. Yet, there is still a significant amount of hesitation towards maternal vaccination policies. Furthermore, contradictory messages circulating social media impact vaccine confidence. OBJECTIVES This scoping review aims to reveal how COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination impacted vaccine confidence in pregnant and lactating women. Additionally, this review studied the role social media plays in creating opinions towards vaccination in these target groups. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Articles published between 23 November 2018 and 18 July 2022 that are linked to the objectives of this review were included. Reviews, articles not focusing on the target group, abstracts, articles describing outcomes of COVID-19 infection/COVID-19 vaccination were excluded. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE The PubMed database was searched to select articles. Search terms used were linked to pregnancy, lactation, vaccination, vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19 and social media. CHARTING METHODS Included articles were abstracted and synthesised by one reviewer. Verification was done by a second reviewer. Disagreements were addressed through discussion between reviewers and other researchers. RESULTS Pregnant and lactating women are generally less likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine compared with non-pregnant and non-nursing women. The main reason to refuse maternal vaccination is safety concerns. A positive link was detected between COVID-19 vaccine willingness and acceptance of other vaccines during pregnancy. The internet and social media are identified as important information sources for maternal vaccination. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Vaccine hesitancy in pregnant and lactating women remains an important issue, expressing the need for effective interventions to increase vaccine confidence and coverage. The role social media plays in vaccine uptake remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa De Brabandere
- Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Greet Hendrickx
- Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Karolien Poels
- Department of Communication Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Walter Daelemans
- Department of Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Psycholinguistics Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Pierre Van Damme
- Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kirsten Maertens
- Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Agodi A. How Wearable Sensors Can Support the Research on Foetal and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020218. [PMID: 36836452 PMCID: PMC9961108 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020218] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of innovative technologies, and in particular of wearable devices, can potentially transform the field of antenatal care with the aim of improving maternal and new-born health through a personalized approach. The present study undertakes a scoping review to systematically map the literature about the use wearable sensors in the research of foetal and pregnancy outcomes. Online databases were used to identify papers published between 2000-2022, from which we selected 30 studies: 9 on foetal outcomes and 21 on maternal outcomes. Included studies focused primarily on the use of wearable devices for monitoring foetal vital signs (e.g., foetal heart rate and movements) and maternal activity during pregnancy (e.g., sleep patterns and physical activity levels). There were many studies that focused on development and/or validation of wearable devices, even if often they included a limited number of pregnant women without pregnancy complications. Although their findings support the potential adoption of wearable devices for both antenatal care and research, there is still insufficient evidence to design effective interventions. Therefore, high quality research is needed to determine which and how wearable devices could support antenatal care.
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Perticone V, Agodi A. How COVID-19 Pandemic Has Influenced Public Interest in Foods: A Google Trends Analysis of Italian Data. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1976. [PMID: 36767342 PMCID: PMC9915381 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Controversy exists about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dietary habits, with studies demonstrating both benefits and drawbacks of this period. We analyzed Google Trends data on specific terms and arguments related to different foods (i.e., fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, milk, red meat, processed meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages) in order to evaluate the interest of Italian people before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joinpoint regression models were applied to identify the possible time points at which public interest in foods changed (i.e., joinpoints). Interestingly, public interest in specific food categories underwent substantial changes during the period under examination. While some changes did not seem to be related to the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., legumes and red meat), public interest in fruit, vegetables, milk, and whole grains increased significantly, especially during the first lockdown. It should be noted, however, that the interest in food-related issues returned to prepandemic levels after the first lockdown period. Thus, more efforts and ad hoc designed studies should be encouraged to evaluate the duration and direction of the COVID-19 pandemic's influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Vanessa Perticone
- Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, 95129 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Kłak A, Furmańczyk K, Nowicka PM, Mańczak M, Barańska A, Religioni U, Siekierska A, Ambroziak M, Chłopek M. The Relationship between Searches for COVID-19 Vaccines and Dynamics of Vaccinated People in Poland: An Infodemiological Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13275. [PMID: 36293855 PMCID: PMC9603580 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Google Trends has turned out to be an appropriate tool for evaluating correlations and prognostic modelling regarding infectious diseases. The possibility of selecting a vaccine against COVID-19 has increased social interest in particular vaccines. The objective of this study was to show dependencies between the frequency of searches for COVID-19 vaccinations and the number of vaccinated people in Poland, along with epidemiological data. METHODS Data were collected regarding Google searches for COVID-19 vaccines, the number of people in Poland vaccinated against COVID-19, the number of new cases, and the number of deaths due to COVID-19. Data were filtered from 27 December 2020 to 1 September 2021. RESULTS The number of new vaccinations smoothed per million correlated most strongly with searches for the word 'Pfizer' in Google Trends (Kendall's tau = 0.46, p < 0.001). The number of new deaths correlated most strongly with the search phrase 'AstraZeneca' (Kendall's tau = 0.46, p < 0.001). The number of new cases per million correlated most strongly with searches for 'AstraZeneca' (Kendall's tau = 0.49, p < 0.001). The maximum daily number of searches ranged between 110 and 130. A significant interest in COVID-19 vaccines was observed from February to June 2021, i.e., in the period of a considerable increase in the number of new cases and new deaths due to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS A significant increase in interest in COVID-19 vaccines was observed from February to June 2021, i.e., in the period of gradually extended access to vaccinations, as well as a considerable increase in the number of new cases and new deaths due to COVID-19. The use of Google Trends with relevant keywords and a comparison with the course of the COVID-19 pandemic facilitates evaluation of the relationship between the frequency and types of searches for COVID-19 vaccines and epidemiological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kłak
- Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Konrad Furmańczyk
- Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
- Institute of Information Technology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Maria Nowicka
- Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Mańczak
- Department of Gerontology, Public Health and Didactics, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartanska 1 Street, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Barańska
- Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics with e-Health Lab, Medical University of Lublin, K. Jaczewskiego 5 Street, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
| | - Urszula Religioni
- Collegium of Business Administration, Warsaw School of Economics, 02-513 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Siekierska
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9 Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Martyna Ambroziak
- Graduate of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61 Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Chłopek
- Graduate of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61 Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
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Hu F, Qiu L, Xia W, Liu CF, Xi X, Zhao S, Yu J, Wei S, Hu X, Su N, Hu T, Zhou H, Jin Z. Spatiotemporal evolution of online attention to vaccines since 2011: An empirical study in China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:949482. [PMID: 35958849 PMCID: PMC9360794 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.949482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Chinese government has taken a number of measures to effectively control the pandemic. By the end of 2021, China achieved a full vaccination rate higher than 85%. The Chinese Plan provides an important model for the global fight against COVID-19. Internet search reflects the public's attention toward and potential demand for a particular thing. Research on the spatiotemporal characteristics of online attention to vaccines can determine the spatiotemporal distribution of vaccine demand in China and provides a basis for global public health policy making. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of online attention to vaccines and their influencing factors in 31 provinces/municipalities in mainland China with Baidu Index as the data source by using geographic concentration index, coefficient of variation, GeoDetector, and other methods. The following findings are presented. First, online attention to vaccines showed an overall upward trend in China since 2011, especially after 2016. Significant seasonal differences and an unbalanced monthly distribution were observed. Second, there was an obvious geographical imbalance in online attention to vaccines among the provinces/municipalities, generally exhibiting a spatial pattern of “high in the east and low in the west.” Low aggregation and obvious spatial dispersion among the provinces/municipalities were also observed. The geographic distribution of hot and cold spots of online attention to vaccines has clear boundaries. The hot spots are mainly distributed in the central-eastern provinces and the cold spots are in the western provinces. Third, the spatiotemporal differences in online attention to vaccines are the combined result of socioeconomic level, socio-demographic characteristics, and disease control level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Hu
- Global Value Chain Research Center, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liping Qiu
- Global Value Chain Research Center, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Institute of International Business and Economics Innovation and Governance, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, China
| | - Chi-Fang Liu
- Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Xun Xi
- School of Management, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, China
| | - Shuang Zhao
- Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiaao Yu
- London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shaobin Wei
- Institute of Spatial Planning & Design, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Cash Crop Workstation, Shangcheng Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shangcheng, China
| | - Ning Su
- School of MBA, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Hu
- School of Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Change Management, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Haiyan Zhou
| | - Zhuang Jin
- Baotou Teachers' College, Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, Baotou, China
- Zhuang Jin
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Basile G, Agodi A. How COVID-19 Has Influenced Public Interest in Antimicrobials, Antimicrobial Resistance and Related Preventive Measures: A Google Trends Analysis of Italian Data. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11030379. [PMID: 35326842 PMCID: PMC8944652 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11030379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Google Trends analytics is an innovative way to evaluate public interest in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and related preventive measures. In the present study, we analyzed Google Trends data in Italy, from 2016 to 2021. A joinpoint analysis was performed to assess whether and how annual campaigns and the COVID-19 pandemic affected public interest in antimicrobials, AMR, hand hygiene, and the use of disinfectant. For the terms “antimicrobials” and “antimicrobial resistance”, no joinpoints were detected around the time of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have had no effect on public interest in this term. For the term “handwashing”, no joinpoints were detected around World Hand Hygiene Day or Global Handwashing Day. However, three joinpoints were detected around the peak of interest observed in March 2020, after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparable results were obtained for the term “disinfectant”. These findings show that the influence of annual campaigns on public interest in AMR and preventive measures was modest and not long-term. The COVID-19 pandemic, meanwhile, had no effect on AMR but raised awareness on preventive measures. However, this was a temporary rather than long-term outcome. Thus, different policies, strategies, and measures should be designed to advocate prevention of AMR in the COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.)
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.)
| | - Guido Basile
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence:
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