Detecting internet activity for erectile dysfunction using search engine query data in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Despite the increasing prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), there is reluctance among symptomatic patients to present to healthcare providers for appropriate advice and treatment.A number of Internet campaigns have been launched by the Irish healthcare media since 2007 aiming to provide easily accessible advice on ED. Novel online technologies appear to provide a useful tool for educating the general public on the symptoms of ED because there has been a significant increase in overall Internet search activity for this term since 2007.OBJECTIVES To assess Internet search trends for erectile dysfunction (ED) subsequent to public awareness campaigns being launched within the Republic of Ireland To assess whether the advent of such campaigns correlates with increased Internet search activity for ED. MATERIALS AND METHODS Google insights for search was utilized to examine Internet search trends for the term ‘erectile dysfunction’ across all categories between January 2005 and December 2011. Search activity was limited to users from the Republic of Ireland within this timeframe. Additionally, the number of Irish Internet media campaigns and Irish web pages providing information on ED was assessed between January 2005 and December 2011. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using analysis of variance and Student's t‐tests for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS There has been a significant increase in mean search activity for ED on an annual basis since 2007 (P < 0.001). The number of Irish web pages associated with information on ED has also increased significantly on an annual basis since 2007 (P < 0.001). There have been seven different Irish Internet media campaigns on ED since 2007 compared to two from 2005 to 2007 (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in mean search activity for ED from 2005 to 2007 CONCLUSIONS The advent of recent Internet media campaigns and increasing number of Irish web pages is associated with a significant increase in online activity for ED in the Republic of Ireland. Novel online technologies appear to provide a useful tool for educating the general public on the symptoms and treatment options available for ED.

Age at First Presentation for Erectile Dysfunction: Analysis of Changes over a 12-yr Period

“…On one hand, these data could be interpreted as the consequence of an increase in ED awareness among both patients and primary care physicians. Indeed, the widespread availability of PDE5Is and the potential impact of the internet and public media [25,26] may result in patients feeling less embarrassed to discuss and seek medical attention for their sexual issues and being more confident regarding the possibility of an effective treatment. Likewise, the availability of educational programs dedicated to the importance of ED as a widespread condition affecting men's quality of life, and eventually serving as a sentinel marker of major health conditions, could have prompted primary care physicians to investigate ED more comprehensively even in younger individuals and to refer certain patients for a second-level andrological assessment.…”

Disease Monitoring and Health Campaign Evaluation Using Google Search Activities for HIV and AIDS, Stroke, Colorectal Cancer, and Marijuana Use in Canada: A Retrospective Observational Study

“…Swenson and Lindblom [21] analyzed Google Trends for “breast cancer,” “colon cancer,” and “cervical cancer” and reported that cancer awareness month campaigns, specifically breast cancer and colon cancer, increased public awareness as shown by increased Web search activities. In the Republic of Ireland, Davis et al [22] found a direct association between media campaigns for erectile dysfunction and related search activity patterns. Despite limited research on the influence of health campaigns on search activity, other studies showed that media events including news reports and announcements regarding public figures also prompted health seeking behaviors [22-24].…”

“…In the Republic of Ireland, Davis et al [22] found a direct association between media campaigns for erectile dysfunction and related search activity patterns. Despite limited research on the influence of health campaigns on search activity, other studies showed that media events including news reports and announcements regarding public figures also prompted health seeking behaviors [22-24]. These findings suggest potential value for assessing search activity trends; however, further research is needed in this area to evaluate the effectiveness of infoveillance for monitoring health campaigns.…”

Infodemiology and Infoveillance of Multiple Sclerosis in Italy

“…Gunn III and Lester surveyed suicides using search engines [39], and other scholars have replicated these findings [40, 41], while Deluca and collaborators exploited the Web for studying the epidemiology of drug addiction [42]. Internet key-word searching has been used also in the field of human sexuality, trying to better understand the dating and mating behaviors [43, 44]. another interesting application of Web hit search is the real-time detection of kidney stone diseases [45], but so far, to our knowledge, no one has explored the possibility of monitoring Google searches that refer to MS and associated concepts.…”