What Do Germans Want to Know About Skin Cancer? A Nationwide Google Search Analysis From 2013 to 2017

Abstract

BackgroundExperts worldwide agree that skin cancer is a global health issue, but only a few studies have reported on world populations’ interest in skin cancer. Internet search data can reflect the interest of a population in different topics and thereby identify what the population wants to know.ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the interest of the German population in nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma.MethodsGoogle AdWords Keyword Planner was used to identify search terms related to nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma in Germany from November 2013 to October 2017. The identified search terms were assessed descriptively using SPSS version 24.0. In addition, the search terms were qualitatively categorized.ResultsA total of 646 skin cancer-related search terms were identified with 19,849,230 Google searches in the period under review. The search terms with the highest search volume were “skin cancer” (n=2,388,500, 12.03%), “white skin cancer” (n=2,056,900, 10.36%), “basalioma” (n=907,000, 4.57%), and “melanoma” (n=717,800, 3.62%). The most searched localizations of nonmelanoma skin cancer were “nose” (n=93,370, 38.99%) and “face” (n=53,270, 22.24%), and the most searched of melanoma were “nails” (n=46,270, 70.61%) and “eye” (n=10,480, 15.99%). The skin cancer‒related category with the highest search volume was “forms of skin cancer” (n=10,162,540, 23.28%) followed by “skin alterations” (n=4,962,020, 11.36%).ConclusionsOur study provides insight into terms and fields of interest related to skin cancer relevant to the German population. Furthermore, temporal trends and courses are shown. This information could aid in the development and implementation of effective and sustainable awareness campaigns by developing information sources targeted to the population’s broad interest or by implementing new Internet campaigns.

Interest in Skin Cancer in Urban Populations: A Retrospective Analysis of Google Search Terms in Nine Large German Cities

“…One way to investigate reasons for not using skin cancer prevention measures is to focus on the interest in skin cancer among the general population (28). As the Internet is a commonly used source of health information, search engine analysis represents a novel tool for investigating the general interest in various topics (16,(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). In Germany, approximately 90% of inhabitants use the Internet (34).…”

‘Try to make good hay in the shade – it won't work!’ A qualitative interview study on the perspectives of Bavarian farmers regarding primary prevention of skin cancer

“…Furthermore, compared with melanoma, they cause a higher burden of disease when measured using disability‐adjusted life years . Today, KCs pose an enormous socioeconomic burden, which is likely to increase even further over the coming years considering the increasing incidence worldwide . Accordingly, effective and sustainable awareness and prevention strategies are urgently needed …”

“…3,7 Today, KCs pose an enormous socioeconomic burden, [8][9][10][11] which is likely to increase even further over the coming years considering the increasing incidence worldwide. 12,13 Accordingly, effective and sustainable awareness and prevention strategies are urgently needed. [12][13][14] The main modifiable risk factor for KC is extensive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of the sun, which logically leads to KC primarily occurring on light-exposed parts of the body.…”

“…12,13 Accordingly, effective and sustainable awareness and prevention strategies are urgently needed. [12][13][14] The main modifiable risk factor for KC is extensive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of the sun, which logically leads to KC primarily occurring on light-exposed parts of the body. 1,[15][16][17] Outdoor workers and, in particular, farmers, typically exposed to UVR during their daily work, for up to 40 hours per week, 18 are at a substantially higher risk of KC than indoor workers.…”

Primary and secondary prevention of skin cancer in mountain guides: attitude and motivation for or against participation

“…However, within the last few years, several publications have shown that NMSC prevention strategies like using sun protection and undergoing skin cancer screening are not highly prevalent among outdoor professionals, especially mountain guides, 10,16,17,[25][26][27][28] despite the ease of compliance and noninvasive nature of these strategies. Various reasons are conceivable for these observations, but so far most have received only limited attention in respective studies.…”