scholarly journals Interest in Sexually Transmitted Infections: Analysis of Web Search Data Terms in Eleven Large German Cities from 2015 to 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2771
Author(s):  
Anna Caroline Pilz ◽  
Linda Tizek ◽  
Melvin Rüth ◽  
Peter Seiringer ◽  
Tilo Biedermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Periodic Patterns ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Search Data ◽  
Time Courses ◽  
German Cities

Incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis has increased in recent years in the US and in European countries. In order to implement effective educational programs, the interests of target populations have to be identified. Since the internet is an important source of information-gathering on health issues, this study investigates web search data in large German cities related to STIs. Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to identify STI-related terms and their search volume in eleven German cities from June 2015 to May 2019. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively with regard to total search volumes, search volumes of specific thematic areas, and search volumes per 100,000 inhabitants. Overall, 741 terms with a total search volume of 5,142,560 queries were identified, with more than 70% of all search queries including a specific disease and “chlamydia” being the overall most often searched term (n = 1,196,160). Time courses of search behavior displayed a continuous interest in STIs with synchronal and national rather than regional peaks. Volumes of search queries lacked periodic patterns. Based on the findings of this study, a more open public discussion about STIs with linkage to increased media coverage and clarification of responsibilities among all STI-treating disciplines concerning management of STIs seem advisable.

scholarly journals Influence of Climate on Google Internet Searches for Pruritus Across 16 German Cities: Retrospective Analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Tizek ◽  
Maximilian Schielein ◽  
Melvin Rüth ◽  
Sonja Ständer ◽  
Manuel Pedro Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sunshine Duration ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Relative Number ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Weather Factors ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Study Results ◽  
German Cities

BACKGROUND The burden of pruritus is high, especially among patients with dermatologic diseases. Identifying trends in pruritus burden and people’s medical needs is challenging, since not all affected people consult a physician. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate pruritus search behavior trends in Germany and identify associations with weather factors. METHODS Google AdWords Keyword Planner was used to quantify pruritus-related search queries in 16 German cities from August 2014 to July 2018. All identified keywords were qualitatively categorized and pruritus-related terms were descriptively analyzed. The number of search queries per 100,000 inhabitants of each city was compared to environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM10), and sunshine duration to investigate potential correlations. RESULTS We included 1150 pruritus-related keywords, which resulted in 2,851,290 queries. “Pruritus” (n=115,680) and “anal pruritus” (n=102,390) were the most-searched-for keywords. Nearly half of all queries were related to the category localization, with Berlin and Munich having a comparatively high proportion of people that searched for pruritus in the genital and anal areas. People searched more frequently for information on chronic compared to acute pruritus. The most populated cities had the lowest number of queries per 100,000 inhabitants (Berlin, n=13,641; Hamburg, n=18,303; and Munich, n=21,363), while smaller cities (Kiel, n=35,027; and Freiburg, n=39,501) had the highest. Temperature had a greater effect on search query number (beta -7.94, 95% CI -10.74 to -5.15) than did PM10 (beta -5.13, 95% CI -7.04 to -3.22), humidity (beta 4.73, 95% CI 2.70 to 6.75), or sunshine duration (beta 0.66, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.97). The highest relative number of search queries occurred during the winter (ie, December to February). CONCLUSIONS By taking into account the study results, Google data analysis helps to examine people’s search frequency, behavior, and interest across cities and regions. The results indicated a general increase in search queries during the winter as well as differences across cities located in the same region; for example, there was a decline in search volume in Saarbrucken, while there were increases in Cologne, Frankfurt, and Dortmund. In addition, the detected correlation between search volume and weather data seems to be valuable in predicting an increase in pruritus burden, since a significant association with rising humidity and sunshine duration, as well as declining temperature and PM10, was found. Accordingly, this is an unconventional and inexpensive method to identify search behavior trends and respective inhabitants’ needs.

‘Culpable and Reckless Conduct’: Criminalising the Transmission of HIV in Scotland, 1983–2014

2018 ◽  
pp. 177-200
Author(s):  
Roger Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Public Order ◽  
Court Cases ◽  
High Court ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

The chapter examines the criminalisation of HIV transmission in Scotland after 1983. First, as historical perspective, it reviews the series of largely abortive attempts by Scottish lawmakers to criminalise the transmission of VD since 1900. Secondly, it addresses the response of Scottish governance to the rising demand for additional public order and public health powers to contain the spread of HIV between 1983 and 2001, fuelled after 1997 by media coverage of cases in which it was alleged that innocent victims had been carelessly or knowingly infected. There follows a detailed narrative of the trial and sentencing of Stephen Kelly at the High Court in Glasgow in February 2001 for knowingly infecting his partner with HIV. A further section reviews the protracted medical, ethical and legal debate arising out of the case. Finally, the main strands of policy-making on the issue of amending the law during the period up to 2015 are outlined. This is set against the backdrop of three additional High Court cases between 2005 and 2010 and the publication of guidelines by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 1912 for the prosecution of ‘intentional or reckless’ transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

Identifying Relevant Disease Characteristics Regarding Psoriasis in Germany: A Retrospective Web Search Data Analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Wallnöfer ◽  
Mert Erbas ◽  
Linda Tizek ◽  
Barbara Schuster ◽  
Tilo Biedermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Search ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
General Category ◽  
Therapy Options ◽  
Federal States ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Search Data ◽  
The Web

BACKGROUND Little is known about what people with psoriasis are interested in when they search the web. As the Internet is becoming increasingly relevant as a source of information for health-related questions, the monitoring of online search behavior allows the assessment of interest in a disease on a more representative level by including people outside of medical settings. OBJECTIVE This study aims to reveal relevant aspects regarding psoriasis for people consulting the web. METHODS Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to select and evaluate relevant keywords for ‘psoriasis’ in the study period from September 2016 to August 2020. All keywords were qualitatively reviewed and descriptively analyzed in eleven categories. The study considered the search volume for all of Germany with German as the language preference. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to assess differences in the German states. RESULTS Among 11,170,740 German language Google searches on the topic of psoriasis, the keyword with the overall highest search volume was the German lay term for psoriasis “Schuppenflechte” (n=3,634,000; 32.5%), followed by “psoriasis” (n=2,675,600; 24.0%) and “psoriasis scalp” (n=369,200; 3.3%). In the general category, the most commonly searched for disease aspect related to the possible contagiousness of psoriasis (n=122,040). “Head” (51.1%), followed by “nails” (15.9%), “hands” (8.8%), “feet” (7.8%), and “genital/anal area” (6.1%), was the most frequently searched for localization. Pustular forms of psoriasis were overrepresented in the search volume relative to their frequency in the literature. Almost half of the search terms for therapy were represented by keywords related to alternative care and phytotherapy. Less than one percent of queries on therapy dealt with biologics. Significant differences between the federal states could be established for search volumes on treatment options (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Queries on pustular forms and difficult-to-treat areas gained high online interest, which suggests a subjectively higher burden of disease or underdiagnosis. Concerning therapy, people most notably consulted the web for alternative therapy options instead of guideline-conform therapies. This suggests possible therapy dissatisfaction, lack of patient information, or lack of access to guideline-conform therapy options. The possible infectiousness of psoriasis seems to remain an issue in the general population and should be continously addressed to reduce stigmatization.

scholarly journals Google Searches and Suicide Rates in Spain, 2004-2013: Correlation Study

10.2196/10919 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e10919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Jimenez ◽  
Miguel-Angel Santed-Germán ◽  
Victoria Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Correlation Study ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Search Data

Background Different studies have suggested that web search data are useful in forecasting several phenomena from the field of economics to epidemiology or health issues. Objective This study aimed to (1) evaluate the correlation between suicide rates released by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) and internet search trends in Spain reported by Google Trends (GT) for 57 suicide-related terms representing major known risks of suicide and an analysis of these results using a linear regression model and (2) study the differential association between male and female suicide rates published by the INE and internet searches of these 57 terms. Methods The study period was from 2004 to 2013. In this study, suicide data were collected from (1) Spain’s INE and (2) local internet search data from GT, both from January 2004 to December 2013. We investigated and validated 57 suicide-related terms already tested in scientific studies before 2015 that would be the best predictors of new suicide cases. We then evaluated the nowcasting effects of a GT search through a cross-correlation analysis and by linear regression of the suicide incidence data with the GT data. Results Suicide rates in Spain in the study period were positively associated (r<-0.2) for the general population with the search volume for 7 terms and negatively for 1 from the 57 terms used in previous studies. Suicide rates for men were found to be significantly different than those of women. The search term, “allergy,” demonstrated a lead effect for new suicide cases (r=0.513; P=.001). The next significant correlating terms for those 57 studied were “antidepressant,” “alcohol abstinence,” “relationship breakup” (r=0.295, P=.001; r=0.295, P=.001; and r=0.268, P=.002, respectively). Significantly different results were obtained for men and women. Search terms that correlate with suicide rates of women are consistent with previous studies, showing that the incidence of depression is higher in women than in men, and showing different gender searching patterns. Conclusions A better understanding of internet search behavior of both men and women in relation to suicide and related topics may help design effective suicide prevention programs based on information provided by search robots and other big data sources.

scholarly journals Leveraging internet search data to assess prevalence, interest, and unmet needs of sarcoidosis in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Hilker ◽  
Linda Tizek ◽  
Melvin Rüth ◽  
Maximilian Schielein ◽  
Tilo Biedermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Multisystemic Disease ◽  
Search Data ◽  
German Cities

AbstractSarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease of connective tissue with granuloma formation of unknown etiology and unclear prevalence. Internet search data has been shown to correlate with disease incidences and the population’s interest as well as seasonal variations. Accordingly, aim of this study was to leverage internet search data on sarcoidosis-related keywords to identify unmet needs, geographical and seasonal factors influencing sarcoidosis and estimating its prevalence. In this retrospective longitudinal study, Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to determine the internet search volume of terms related to sarcoidosis across Germany as a whole and in 17 major German cities between July 2015 and June 2019. Identified keywords were qualitatively categorized, converted into number of searches per 100,000 inhabitants and analyzed including regional and seasonal differences. With 3,068,200 queries and 425 different sarcoidosis-related search terms in the studied time period, the search volume was very high for a rare disease. Most searches (67.9%) related to general disease information with “sarcoidosis”, "Löfgren's syndrome", "sarcoidosis lung", "Morbus Boeck" and "neurosarcoidosis" as the top five keywords. Searches per 100,000 inhabitants were comparable in all 17 cities but higher than in Germany as a whole. Overall, the search volume increased from 2015 to 2019 and peaked annually in European springtime with annual lows in European autumn and winter months. The overall high search volume suggests an unmet need for sarcoidosis-related information and a diagnostic gap. Seasonal fluctuations indicate environmental as well as climatic factors that may influence sarcoidosis.

scholarly journals Estimation of the incidence of conjunctivitis - comparing the frequency of Google™ search terms with clinical data (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Kammrath Betancor ◽  
Linda Tizek ◽  
Alexander Zink ◽  
Thomas Reinhard ◽  
Daniel Böhringer
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Data ◽  
Cross Correlation ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Temporal Association ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Search Data ◽  
German Cities

BACKGROUND Infectious conjunctivitis is contagious and may lead to an outbreak. Prevention systems can help to restrain this. OBJECTIVE To evaluate if Google™ search data on conjunctivitis and associated terms is able to estimate the incidence and if it may provide an estimation for outbreaks. METHODS We obtained Google™ search data over four years for the German term for conjunctivitis (“Bindehautentzündung”) and 714 associated terms in 12 selected German cities and Germany as a whole using the Google™ AdWords Keyword Planner. The search volume from Freiburg was correlated with clinical data from the Freiburg emergency practice, Eye Center University of Freiburg. RESULTS The search volume for the German terms for conjunctivitis in Germany as a whole and in the 12 German cities shows a highly uniform seasonal pattern. Cross-correlation between the temporal search frequencies in Germany as a whole and the 12 selected cities is high without any lag. Cross-correlation of the search volume in Freiburg with the frequency conjunctivitis (ICD codes "H10.-") from the centralized ophthalmologic emergency practice in Freiburg reveals a considerable temporal association with a time lag of 7 days. Also, Perason’s correlation between the count of patients per month and the count of searches per month in Freiburg is statistically significant (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS We observe a close correlation between the Google™ search volume for signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis and the patient frequency with a congruent diagnosis in the Freiburg region. Regional deviations from the nationwide average search volume may therefore indicate a regional outbreak of infectious conjunctivitis.

scholarly journals Google Searches and Suicide Rates in Spain, 2004-2013: Correlation Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Jimenez ◽  
Miguel-Angel Santed-Germán ◽  
Victoria Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Correlation Study ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Search Data

BACKGROUND Different studies have suggested that web search data are useful in forecasting several phenomena from the field of economics to epidemiology or health issues. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to (1) evaluate the correlation between suicide rates released by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) and internet search trends in Spain reported by Google Trends (GT) for 57 suicide-related terms representing major known risks of suicide and an analysis of these results using a linear regression model and (2) study the differential association between male and female suicide rates published by the INE and internet searches of these 57 terms. METHODS The study period was from 2004 to 2013. In this study, suicide data were collected from (1) Spain’s INE and (2) local internet search data from GT, both from January 2004 to December 2013. We investigated and validated 57 suicide-related terms already tested in scientific studies before 2015 that would be the best predictors of new suicide cases. We then evaluated the <i>nowcasting</i> effects of a GT search through a cross-correlation analysis and by linear regression of the suicide incidence data with the GT data. RESULTS Suicide rates in Spain in the study period were positively associated (<i>r</i>&lt;-0.2) for the general population with the search volume for 7 terms and negatively for 1 from the 57 terms used in previous studies. Suicide rates for men were found to be significantly different than those of women. The search term, “allergy,” demonstrated a lead effect for new suicide cases (<i>r</i>=0.513; <i>P</i>=.001). The next significant correlating terms for those 57 studied were “antidepressant,” “alcohol abstinence,” “relationship breakup” (<i>r</i>=0.295, <i>P</i>=.001; <i>r</i>=0.295, <i>P</i>=.001; and <i>r</i>=0.268, <i>P</i>=.002, respectively). Significantly different results were obtained for men and women. Search terms that correlate with suicide rates of women are consistent with previous studies, showing that the incidence of depression is higher in women than in men, and showing different gender searching patterns. CONCLUSIONS A better understanding of internet search behavior of both men and women in relation to suicide and related topics may help design effective suicide prevention programs based on information provided by search robots and other big data sources.

Content-Based Model of Web Search Behavior: An Application to TV Show Search

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Liu ◽  
Olivier Toubia ◽  
Shawndra Hill
Keyword(s):  
Search Engine ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Business Decision ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
Search Data ◽  
Tv Shows ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Tv Show

We develop a flexible content-based search model that links the content preferences of search engine users to query search volume and click-through rates, while allowing content preferences to vary systematically based on the context of a search. Content preferences are defined over latent topics that describe the content of search queries and search result descriptions. Compared with existing applications of topic modeling in marketing and recommendation systems, our proposed approach can simultaneously capture multiple types of information and investigate multiple aspects of behavioral dynamics in a single framework that enables interpretable results for business decision making. To facilitate efficient and scalable inference, we develop a full Bayesian variational inference algorithm. We evaluate our modeling framework using real-world search data for TV shows from the Bing search engine. We illustrate how our model can quantify the content preferences associated with each query and how these preferences vary systematically based on whether the query is observed before, during, or after a TV show is aired. We also show that our model can help the search engine improve its ranking of search results as well as address the cold-start problem for new page links. This paper was accepted by Hamid Nazerzadeh, big data analytics.

Anorectal manifestations of sexually transmitted infections

2001 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Schofield ◽  
S. J. Winceslaus
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Sexually Transmitted
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