Google search trends for itch in Europe: a retrospective longitudinal study
Por:
Pereira, MP, Ziehfreund, S, Rueth, M, Ewering, T, Legat, FJ, Lambert, J, Elberling, J, Misery, L, Brenaut, E, Papadavid, E, Garcovich, S, Evers, AWM, Halvorsen, JA, Szepietowski, JC, Reich, A, Goncalo, M, Lvov, A, Bobko, S, Serra-Baldrich, E, Wallengren, J, Savk, E, Leslie, T, Stander, S, Zink, A, EADV Task Force Pruritus
Publicada:
1 jun 2021
Ahead of Print:
1 ene 2021
Resumen:
Background Itch is a common symptom in the general population. Affected individuals often do not seek medical consultation and rely on Internet searches to obtain information regarding their itch.
Objectives The aim of this study was to attain insights into common concerns of the general population regarding itch can by analysing itch-related Internet search behaviour.
Methods Google AdWords Keyword Planner was used to assess search volumes for itch-related terms in 15 European countries between September 2014 and August 2018. All identified keywords were qualitatively categorized. Itch-related terms were descriptively analysed and are shown as number of searches/100 000 inhabitants.
Results The search volume for the keyword 'itch' per 100 000 inhabitants was highest in Northern Europe, followed by Eastern, Central and Southern Europe. In 4/15 countries, itch was searched for more often in the autumn/winter months compared to in the spring/summer months. Most itch-related terms were related to dermatological conditions such as inflammatory skin diseases (e.g. psoriasis, atopic dermatitis), allergic or immunologic conditions (e.g. urticaria), and infectious diseases or infestations (e.g. scabies). In terms of body location, genitoanal itch dominated the searches. Symptoms and signs related to itch, possible non-dermatological aetiologies, and treatment options were also among the most searched terms.
Conclusions These analyses provided for the first time insights into the search behaviour patterns related to itch across Europe. People from Northern and Eastern Europe are more likely to seek online information regarding itch. Causes for the itch, especially dermatological conditions, and genitoanal itch are the most important concerns for Internet users. This unconventional and inexpensive method identifies medical needs of people beyond the medical setting, including people who do not seek medical consultation. Accordingly, the data could be used to guide public health interventions and manage respective inhabitants' medical needs.
Filiaciones:
Pereira, MP:
Univ Hosp Munster, Dept Dermatol, Munster, Germany
Univ Hosp Munster, Ctr Chron Pruritus, Munster, Germany
Ziehfreund, S:
Tech Univ Munich, Dept Dermatol & Allergy, Munich, Germany
Rueth, M:
Tech Univ Munich, Dept Dermatol & Allergy, Munich, Germany
Ewering, T:
Univ Hosp Munster, Dept Dermatol, Munster, Germany
Univ Hosp Munster, Ctr Chron Pruritus, Munster, Germany
Legat, FJ:
Med Univ Graz, Dept Dermatol, Graz, Austria
Lambert, J:
Univ Antwerp, Univ Hosp Antwerp, Dept Dermatol, Antwerp, Belgium
Elberling, J:
Univ Hosp Gentofte, Dept Dermatol, Copenhagen, Denmark
Misery, L:
Univ Hosp Brest, Dept Dermatol, Brest, France
Brenaut, E:
Univ Hosp Brest, Dept Dermatol, Brest, France
Papadavid, E:
Univ Athens, Attikon Hosp, Dept Dermatol & Venereol, Med Sch, Athens, Greece
Garcovich, S:
Univ Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Fdn Policlin Univ A Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Dermatol, Dipartimento Sci Med & Chirurg, Rome, Italy
Evers, AWM:
Leiden Univ, Inst Psychol, Dept Hlth Med & Neuropsychol, Leiden, Netherlands
Halvorsen, JA:
Univ Oslo, Oslo Univ Hosp, Dept Dermatol, Oslo, Norway
Szepietowski, JC:
Wroclaw Med Univ, Dept Dermatol Venereol & Allergol, Wroclaw, Poland
Reich, A:
Univ Rzeszow, Dept Dermatol, Rzeszow, Poland
Goncalo, M:
Univ Coimbra, Univ Hosp, Dept Dermatol, Coimbra, Portugal
Univ Coimbra, Fac Med, Coimbra, Portugal
Lvov, A:
Moscow Sci & Pract Ctr Dermatovenereol & Cosmetol, Moscow, Russia
Bobko, S:
Moscow Sci & Pract Ctr Dermatovenereol & Cosmetol, Moscow, Russia
Serra-Baldrich, E:
St Pau Hosp, Dept Dermatol, Barcelona, Spain
Wallengren, J:
Lund Univ, Dept Clin Sci Lund, Dermatol & Venereol, Lund, Sweden
Skane Univ Hosp, Lund, Sweden
Savk, E:
Adnan Menderes Univ, Dept Dermatol, Aydin, Turkey
Leslie, T:
Royal Free Hosp, London, England
Stander, S:
Univ Hosp Munster, Dept Dermatol, Munster, Germany
Univ Hosp Munster, Ctr Chron Pruritus, Munster, Germany
Zink, A:
Tech Univ Munich, Dept Dermatol & Allergy, Munich, Germany
Green Published, Hybrid Gold
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