Googling on Colonoscopy: A Retrospective Analysis of Search Engine Statistics

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Abstract

Purpose

Colonoscopy is a gold standard for screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The data from the search engine may reveal what information on coloscopy gains the attention of Internet users. We aimed to investigate Google searches trends and terms related to colonoscopy.

Patients and Methods

We retrieved statistics searches related to colonoscopy using Google Trends (GT) and Google Ads (GA) for the period from April 2016 to March 2020. The GT data was used for the analysis of time and regional search patterns worldwide. GA data for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand (NZ), Poland, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) were used to calculate the search volume of categories of queries related to colonoscopy.

Results

Globally, the relative search volume on colonoscopy has increased until the COVID-19 outbreak and revealed seasonal variation: the highest interest was observed in March (CRC awareness month), and the lowest during December (Christmas holidays). The highest number of searches per 1000 Google users-years was done in Poland (59.62) and the lowest in the UK (19.46). Most commonly, Google users searched for details on colonoscopy techniques (Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ), anesthesia during the procedure (Poland), facility performing colonoscopy (UK, US). In all seven countries, less than 2% of queries concerned with bowel preparation before the procedure.

Conclusion

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in colonoscopy has increased among Google users. Google users may underestimate the importance of proper bowel preparation.

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Most cited references 27

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Epidemiology of colorectal cancer: incidence, mortality, survival, and risk factors

Prashanth Rawla, Tagore Sunkara, Adam Barsouk (2019)

According to GLOBOCAN 2018 data, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly and fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. Nearly 2 million new cases and about 1 million deaths are expected in 2018. CRC incidence has been steadily rising worldwide, especially in developing countries that are adopting the “western” way of life. Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, red meat consumption, alcohol, and tobacco are considered the driving factors behind the growth of CRC. However, recent advances in early detection screenings and treatment options have reduced CRC mortality in developed nations, even in the face of growing incidence. Genetic testing and better family history documentation can enable those with a hereditary predisposition for the neoplasm to take preventive measures. Meanwhile, the general population can reduce their risk by lowering their red meat, alcohol, and tobacco consumption and raising their consumption of fibre, wholesome foods, and certain vitamins and minerals.

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Predictors of eHealth Usage: Insights on The Digital Divide From the Health Information National Trends Survey 2012

Emily Kontos, Kelly D Blake, Wen-ying Chou … (2014)

Background Recent eHealth developments have elevated the importance of assessing the extent to which technology has empowered patients and improved health, particularly among the most vulnerable populations. With noted disparities across racial and social groups in chronic health outcomes, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes, it is essential that researchers examine any differences in the implementation, uptake, and impact of eHealth strategies across groups that bear a disproportionate burden of disease. Objective The goal was to examine eHealth use by sociodemographic factors, such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), age, and sex. Methods We drew data from National Cancer Institute’s 2012 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) (N=3959) which is publicly available online. We estimated multivariable logistic regression models to assess sociodemographic predictors of eHealth use among adult Internet users (N=2358) across 3 health communication domains (health care, health information–seeking, and user-generated content/sharing). Results Among online adults, we saw no evidence of a digital use divide by race/ethnicity. However, there were significant differences in use by SES, particularly for health care and health information–seeking items. Patients with lower levels of education had significantly lower odds of going online to look for a health care provider (high school or less: OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.33-0.76) using email or the Internet to communicate with a doctor (high school or less: OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29-0.72), tracking their personal health information online (high school or less: OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.84), using a website to help track diet, weight, and physical activity (high school or less: OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.98; some college: OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.93), or downloading health information to a mobile device (some college: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33-0.89). Being female was a consistent predictor of eHealth use across health care and user-generated content/sharing domains, whereas age was primarily influential for health information–seeking. Conclusions This study illustrates that lower SES, older, and male online US adults were less likely to engage in a number of eHealth activities compared to their counterparts. Future studies should assess issues of health literacy and eHealth literacy and their influence on eHealth engagement across social groups. Clinical care and public health communication efforts attempting to leverage Web 2.0 and 3.0 platforms should acknowledge differential eHealth usage to better address communication inequalities and persistent disparities in health.

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The global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Saeid Safiri, Sadaf Sepanlou, Kevin S Ikuta … (2019)

Summary Background Data about the global, regional, and country-specific variations in the levels and trends of colorectal cancer are required to understand the impact of this disease and the trends in its burden to help policy makers allocate resources. Here we provide a status report on the incidence, mortality, and disability caused by colorectal cancer in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017. Methods Vital registration, sample vital registration, verbal autopsy, and cancer registry data were used to generate incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) estimates of colorectal cancer at the global, regional, and national levels. We also determined the association between development levels and colorectal cancer age-standardised DALY rates, and calculated DALYs attributable to risk factors that had evidence of causation with colorectal cancer. All of the estimates are reported as counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 person-years, with some estimates also presented by sex and 5-year age groups. Findings In 2017, there were 1·8 million (95% UI 1·8–1·9) incident cases of colorectal cancer globally, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 23·2 (22·7–23·7) per 100 000 person-years that increased by 9·5% (4·5–13·5) between 1990 and 2017. Globally, colorectal cancer accounted for 896 000 (876 300–915 700) deaths in 2017, with an age-standardised death rate of 11·5 (11·3–11·8) per 100 000 person-years, which decreased between 1990 and 2017 (−13·5% [–18·4 to −10·0]). Colorectal cancer was also responsible for 19·0 million (18·5–19·5) DALYs globally in 2017, with an age-standardised rate of 235·7 (229·7–242·0) DALYs per 100 000 person-years, which decreased between 1990 and 2017 (−14·5% [–20·4 to −10·3]). Slovakia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand had the highest age-standardised incidence rates in 2017. Greenland, Hungary, and Slovakia had the highest age-standardised death rates in 2017. Numbers of incident cases and deaths were higher among males than females up to the ages of 80–84 years, with the highest rates observed in the oldest age group (≥95 years) for both sexes in 2017. There was a non-linear association between the Socio-demographic Index and the Healthcare Access and Quality Index and age-standardised DALY rates. In 2017, the three largest contributors to DALYs at the global level, for both sexes, were diet low in calcium (20·5% [12·9–28·9]), alcohol use (15·2% [12·1–18·3]), and diet low in milk (14·3% [5·1–24·8]). Interpretation There is substantial global variation in the burden of colorectal cancer. Although the overall colorectal cancer age-standardised death rate has been decreasing at the global level, the increasing age-standardised incidence rate in most countries poses a major public health challenge across the world. The results of this study could be useful for policy makers to carry out cost-effective interventions and to reduce exposure to modifiable risk factors, particularly in countries with high incidence or increasing burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Clin Exp Gastroenterol

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Clin Exp Gastroenterol

Journal ID (publisher-id): ceg

Journal ID (pmc): ceg

Title: Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology

Publisher: Dove

ISSN (Electronic): 1178-7023

Publication date (Electronic): 02 October 2020

Publication date Collection: 2020

Volume: 13

Pages: 397-405

Affiliations

[1 ]District Hospital in Oborniki , Oborniki, Poland

[2 ]Department of Gastroenterology, Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin, Poland

[3 ]Endoscopy Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

Author notes

Correspondence: Anastasios Koulaouzidis Endoscopy Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandEH16 4SA, United KingdomTel +44-131-2421603Fax +44-131-2421618 Email akoulaouzidis@hotmail.com

Author information

Mikolaj Kaminski http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4394-0460

Wojciech Marlicz http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2649-5967

Anastasios Koulaouzidis http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2248-489X

Article

Publisher ID: 266546

DOI: 10.2147/CEG.S266546

PMC ID: 7537804

PubMed ID: 33061518

SO-VID: 02b07fa9-dfda-47e3-94d0-5f00aeb71c15

License:

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms ( https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).

History

Date received : 18 June 2020

Date accepted : 08 September 2020

Page count

Figures: 2, Tables: 3, References: 41, Pages: 9

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Googling on Colonoscopy: A Retrospective Analysis of Search Engine Statistics

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 27

Epidemiology of colorectal cancer: incidence, mortality, survival, and risk factors

Predictors of eHealth Usage: Insights on The Digital Divide From the Health Information National Trends Survey 2012

The global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

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