Online Public Attention During the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Infoveillance Study Based on Baidu Index

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global public health event, attracting worldwide attention. As a tool to monitor public awareness, internet search engines have been widely used in public health emergencies. Objective This study aims to use online search data (Baidu Index) to monitor the public’s attention and verify internet search engines’ function in public attention monitoring of public health emergencies. Methods We collected the Baidu Index and the case monitoring data from January 20, 2020, to April 20, 2020. We combined the Baidu Index of keywords related to COVID-19 to describe the public attention’s temporal trend and spatial distribution, and conducted the time lag cross-correlation analysis. Results The Baidu Index temporal trend indicated that the changes of the Baidu Index had a clear correspondence with the development time node of the pandemic. The Baidu Index spatial distribution showed that in the regions of central and eastern China, with denser populations, larger internet user bases, and higher economic development levels, the public was more concerned about COVID-19. In addition, the Baidu Index was significantly correlated with six case indicators of new confirmed cases, new death cases, new cured discharge cases, cumulative confirmed cases, cumulative death cases, and cumulative cured discharge cases. Moreover, the Baidu Index was 0-4 days earlier than new confirmed and new death cases, and about 20 days earlier than new cured and discharged cases while 3-5 days later than the change of cumulative cases. Conclusions The national public’s demand for epidemic information is urgent regardless of whether it is located in the hardest hit area. The public was more sensitive to the daily new case data that represents the progress of the epidemic, but the public’s attention to the epidemic situation in other areas may lag behind. We could set the Baidu Index as the sentinel and the database in the online infoveillance system for infectious disease and public health emergencies. According to the monitoring data, the government needs to prevent and control the possible outbreak in advance and communicate the risks to the public so as to ensure the physical and psychological health of the public in the epidemic.

Application of the Internet Platform in Monitoring Chinese Public Attention to the Outbreak of COVID-19

“…depicts the characteristics of the COVID-19 outbreak in China between January 20, 2020 and March 20, 2020, through new confirmed cases, new death cases, new cured discharge cases, cumulative confirmed cases, cumulative death cases, and cumulative cured discharge cases(36).…”

Regional Disparities in Information-Seeking Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in China

“…On January 20, the con rmation of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 was announced through television, radio, and newspaper. After being informed of their susceptibility to COVID-19, the public across China rushed to seek related information online 23,24 We found social inequalities in information-seeking behavior intensity within China. Studies have con rmed that deprived populations show relatively lower awareness of infectious diseases, including H1N1 and COVID-19 32,33 .…”

The Whistleblower's Dilemma: An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Early Warning System for Public Health Emergency

“…It is important to note that even if the local government chooses not to announce information about the pandemic in the initial stage, the potential risk may still attract public's attention due to the increase of the suspected cases and the information disclosed by the whistleblower and public opinion on the internet (Banerjee & Meena, 2021). Public's attention is an important factor in improving the efficiency of making informed decisions and responding quickly (Gong et al, 2020;Zhu et al, 2020). In order to maintain the stability of social order, public's attention may put the local government in the position of having to announce the risk information.…”

“…While existing research has found relations between government's strategic decision, the early warnings, public's attention (Banerjee & Meena, 2021;Cao et al, 2020;Gong et al, 2020;Hyland-Wood et al, 2021;Kavanagh, 2020;Tsao et al, 2021;, research on combing with all the parties in pandemic early warning game has been found wanting. Although the government is the main party in this game system in the context of China, the current public health emergency preparedness should be improved through exploring the factors of strategic decisions of three parties and interactive mechanism of the game system.…”