JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Google Trends (GT) is a publicly available search engine and allows the comparisons of relative search volumes between different online search terms.

Objective:

To assess if World Wide Web interest peaks for "ear pain", "ear infection", and "ear drops" correlate with incidence rises of conditions reflected by these search terms, in particular otitis media and otitis externa.

Methods:

We utilized GT to assess the public online interest for search terms "ear pain", "ear infection", and "ear drops" in five English and non-English speaking countries from both hemispheres based on time series data. We performed our analysis for the timeframe between January 1st, 2004 and December 31st, 2019. First, we assessed whether our search terms were most relevant to the topics of ear pain, ear infection, and ear drops. We then tested the reliability of GT time-series data using the intraclass correlation coefficient. In a second step, we computed univariate time-series plots to depict peaks in web-based interest. In the last step, we used the cosinor analysis to test the statistical significance of seasonal interest peaks.

Results:

In the first part of the study, it was revealed that "ear infection", "ear pain" and "ear drops" were the most relevant search terms in the noted timeframe. Next, the intraclass correlation analysis showed a moderate to excellent reliability for all five countries’ three primary search terms. The subsequent analysis revealed winter interest peaks for "ear infection" and "ear pain". On the other hand, the World Wide Web search for "ear drops" peaked annually during the summer months. All peaks were statistically significant, as revealed by the cosinor model (all P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

It can be concluded that individuals affected by otitis media or externa, possibly by a large part, look for medical information online. Therefore, the need for accurate and easily accessible information on these conditions in the World Wide Web is warranted, particularly on differentiating signs and therapy options. It might facilitate timely diagnosis, proper therapy, and eventual circumvention of potentially life-threatening complications.