scholarly journals Biannual Differences in Interest Peaks for Web Inquiries Into Ear Pain and Ear Drops: Infodemiology Study

10.2196/28328 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. e28328
Author(s):  
Faris F Brkic ◽  
Gerold Besser ◽  
Martin Schally ◽  
Elisabeth M Schmid ◽  
Thomas Parzefall ◽  
...  

Background The data retrieved with the online search engine, Google Trends, can summarize internet inquiries into specified search terms. This engine may be used for analyzing inquiry peaks for different medical conditions and symptoms. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze World Wide Web interest peaks for “ear pain,” “ear infection,” and “ear drops.” Methods We used Google Trends to assess the public online interest for search terms “ear pain,” “ear infection,” and “ear drops” in 5 English and non–English-speaking countries from both hemispheres based on time series data. We performed our analysis for the time frame between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019. First, we assessed whether our search terms were most relevant to the topics of ear pain, ear infection, and ear drops. We then tested the reliability of Google Trends time series data using the intraclass correlation coefficient. In a second step, we computed univariate time series plots to depict peaks in web-based interest. In the last step, we used the cosinor analysis to test the statistical significance of seasonal interest peaks. Results In the first part of the study, it was revealed that “ear infection,” “ear pain,” and “ear drops” were the most relevant search terms in the noted time frame. Next, the intraclass correlation analysis showed a moderate to excellent reliability for all 5 countries’ 3 primary search terms. The subsequent analysis revealed winter interest peaks for “ear infection” and “ear pain”. On the other hand, the World Wide Web search for “ear drops” peaked annually during the summer months. All peaks were statistically significant as revealed by the cosinor model (all P values <.001). Conclusions It can be concluded that individuals affected by otitis media or externa, possibly the majority, look for medical information online. Therefore, there is a need for accurate and easily accessible information on these conditions in the World Wide Web, particularly on differentiating signs and therapy options. Meeting this need may facilitate timely diagnosis, proper therapy, and eventual circumvention of potentially life-threatening complications.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faris F Brkic ◽  
Gerold Besser ◽  
Martin Schally ◽  
Elisabeth M Schmid ◽  
Thomas Parzefall ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The data retrieved with the online search engine, Google Trends, can summarize internet inquiries into specified search terms. This engine may be used for analyzing inquiry peaks for different medical conditions and symptoms. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze World Wide Web interest peaks for “ear pain,” “ear infection,” and “ear drops.” METHODS We used Google Trends to assess the public online interest for search terms “ear pain,” “ear infection,” and “ear drops” in 5 English and non–English-speaking countries from both hemispheres based on time series data. We performed our analysis for the time frame between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019. First, we assessed whether our search terms were most relevant to the topics of ear pain, ear infection, and ear drops. We then tested the reliability of Google Trends time series data using the intraclass correlation coefficient. In a second step, we computed univariate time series plots to depict peaks in web-based interest. In the last step, we used the cosinor analysis to test the statistical significance of seasonal interest peaks. RESULTS In the first part of the study, it was revealed that “ear infection,” “ear pain,” and “ear drops” were the most relevant search terms in the noted time frame. Next, the intraclass correlation analysis showed a moderate to excellent reliability for all 5 countries’ 3 primary search terms. The subsequent analysis revealed winter interest peaks for “ear infection” and “ear pain”. On the other hand, the World Wide Web search for “ear drops” peaked annually during the summer months. All peaks were statistically significant as revealed by the cosinor model (all <i>P</i> values &lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that individuals affected by otitis media or externa, possibly the majority, look for medical information online. Therefore, there is a need for accurate and easily accessible information on these conditions in the World Wide Web, particularly on differentiating signs and therapy options. Meeting this need may facilitate timely diagnosis, proper therapy, and eventual circumvention of potentially life-threatening complications.


Author(s):  
Faris F. Brkic ◽  
Gerold Besser ◽  
Stefan Janik ◽  
Anselm J. Gadenstaetter ◽  
Thomas Parzefall ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To assess whether web-based public inquiries into pharyngitis-related search terms follow annual incidence peaks of acute pharyngitis in various countries from both hemispheres. Methods Google Trends (GT) was utilized for systematic acquisition of pharyngitis-related search terms (sore throat, cough, fever, cold). Six countries from both hemispheres including four English (United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia) and two non-English speaking countries (Austria and Germany) were selected for further analysis. Time series data on relative search interest for pharyngitis-related search terms, covering a timeframe between 2004 and 2019 were extracted. Following reliability analysis using the intra-class correlation coefficient, the cosinor time series analysis was utilized to determine annual peaks in public-inquiries. Results The extracted datasets of GT proved to be highly reliable with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.83 to 1.0. Graphical visualization showed annual seasonal peaks for pharyngitis-related search terms in all included countries. The cosinor time series analysis revealed these peaks to be statistically significant during winter months (all p < 0.001). Conclusion Our study revealed seasonal variations for pharyngitis-related terms which corresponded to winter incidence peaks of acute pharyngitis. These results highlight the need for easily accessible information on diagnosis, therapy, and red-flag symptoms for this common disease. Accurately informed patients might contribute to a reduction of unnecessary clinic visits and potentially cutback the futile antibiotic overuse.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Tueller ◽  
Richard A. Van Dorn ◽  
Georgiy Bobashev ◽  
Barry Eggleston

Author(s):  
Rizki Rahma Kusumadewi ◽  
Wahyu Widayat

Exchange rate is one tool to measure a country’s economic conditions. The growth of a stable currency value indicates that the country has a relatively good economic conditions or stable. This study has the purpose to analyze the factors that affect the exchange rate of the Indonesian Rupiah against the United States Dollar in the period of 2000-2013. The data used in this study is a secondary data which are time series data, made up of exports, imports, inflation, the BI rate, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the money supply (M1) in the quarter base, from first quarter on 2000 to fourth quarter on 2013. Regression model time series data used the ARCH-GARCH with ARCH model selection indicates that the variables that significantly influence the exchange rate are exports, inflation, the central bank rate and the money supply (M1). Whereas import and GDP did not give any influence.


2016 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-372
Author(s):  
Takaaki Nakamura ◽  
Makoto Imamura ◽  
Masashi Tatedoko ◽  
Norio Hirai

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Angkana Pumpuang ◽  
Anuphao Aobpaet

The land deformation in line of sight (LOS) direction can be measured using time series InSAR. InSAR can successfully measure land subsidence based on LOS in many big cities, including the eastern and western regions of Bangkok which is separated by Chao Phraya River. There are differences in prosperity between both sides due to human activities, land use, and land cover. This study focuses on the land subsidence difference between the western and eastern regions of Bangkok and the most possible cause affecting the land subsidence rates. The Radarsat-2 single look complex (SLC) was used to set up the time series data for long term monitoring. To generate interferograms, StaMPS for Time Series InSAR processing was applied by using the PSI algorithm in DORIS software. It was found that the subsidence was more to the eastern regions of Bangkok where the vertical displacements were +0.461 millimetres and -0.919 millimetres on the western and the eastern side respectively. The districts of Nong Chok, Lat Krabang, and Khlong Samwa have the most extensive farming area in eastern Bangkok. Besides, there were also three major industrial estates located in eastern Bangkok like Lat Krabang, Anya Thani and Bang Chan Industrial Estate. By the assumption of water demand, there were forty-eight wells and three wells found in the eastern and western part respectively. The number of groundwater wells shows that eastern Bangkok has the demand for water over the west, and the pumping of groundwater is a significant factor that causes land subsidence in the area.Keywords: Subsidence, InSAR, Radarsat-2, Bangkok


1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-309
Author(s):  
Mohammad Irshad Khan

It is alleged that the agricultural output in poor countries responds very little to movements in prices and costs because of subsistence-oriented produc¬tion and self-produced inputs. The work of Gupta and Majid is concerned with the empirical verification of the responsiveness of farmers to prices and marketing policies in a backward region. The authors' analysis of the respon¬siveness of farmers to economic incentives is based on two sets of data (concern¬ing sugarcane, cash crop, and paddy, subsistence crop) collected from the district of Deoria in Eastern U.P. (Utter Pradesh) a chronically foodgrain deficit region in northern India. In one set, they have aggregate time-series data at district level and, in the other, they have obtained data from a survey of five villages selected from 170 villages around Padrauna town in Deoria.


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