Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Sep 15, 2022
Date Accepted: Feb 28, 2023
Online health information seeking for mpox in endemic and non-endemic countries: A Google Trends study.
ABSTRACT
Background:
The recent global outbreak of Monkeypox has already been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation. Given the health, social and economic impact of COVID-19, there is understandable concern and anxiety around the emergence of another infectious disease.
Objective:
We aimed to explore online health information seeking for Monkeypox in endemic and non-endemic regions.
Methods:
Google Trends search data was used as a surrogate measure of online health information seeking. Search data for the 178 day (between February 18th - August 18th, 2022|) were downloaded for non-endemic countries with the highest case count (USA, Spain, Germany, UK and France) and 5 endemic countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, Central African Republic and Cameroon). Ioinpoint regression analysis measured change in searching trends following the announcement of the first in-human case.
Results:
Online health information seeking significantly increased after the publication of the first case in all the non-endemic countries as illustrated by significant Joinpoint regression models. Whilst this was found in two endemic countries (Ghana and Nigeria) this was not found for Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo or Cameroon.
Conclusions:
Findings demonstrate a surge in heath information seeking relating to Monkeypox after the first in-country case was publicised. The increase in searching is characterised by a sharp, but short-lived period of searching before falling back to previous levels. Implications for the publication and provision of accurate relevant public health information during disease outbreaks – especially for diseases that are relatively unknown – are discussed. Clinical Trial: N/A
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