JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

In Taiwan, high prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) intensifies public health concerns. With the growing reliance on online resources for health information, platforms like Google Trends offer a valuable method to capture public interest. This approach also allows for the exploration of potential associations between DED public interest and environmental parameters, which may further illuminate underlying factors contributing to the disease's rising prevalence.

Objective:

To analyze public interest in DED in Taiwan using Google Trends (GT) data, investigate correlations with environmental parameters, and identify shifts in public interest through rising related queries.

Methods:

We analyzed GT data from December 2018 to July 2024, focusing on relative search volume (RSV) for dry eye syndrome across Taiwan and its six special municipalities. Temporal trends were analyzed using spline regression models, and monthly variations were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman’s correlation was utilized to evaluate the relationship between RSV and environmental parameters, while Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) analysis clarified the temporal alignment of RSV with these parameters. Rising related search queries were analyzed to identify shifts in public interest and compared with available online information.

Results:

A significant increasing trend in RSV for dry eye syndrome was observed over the study period in Taiwan (mean instantaneous derivative = 0.445; p < 0.001) and across all six special municipalities. Environmental parameters such as methane (CH₄), total hydrocarbons (THC), and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) were identified as novel pollutants strongly correlated with RSV (p < 0.001), along with known pollutants such as NO, NO₂, SO₂, NOx, and CO. DTW analysis revealed the strongest temporal alignment between RSV and hydrocarbons including CH4 and THC, further emphasizing their potential role in influencing public interest. Rising search queries shifted from diagnostic and treatment methods before COVID-19 to natural remedies during COVID-19, and self-diagnosis and treatment options after COVID-19; while gaps were identified between public interest and the availability of online information.

Conclusions:

Public interest in DED has increased significantly in Taiwan from 2018 to 2024, with hydrocarbons emerging as novel environmental parameters. The shifts in related queries reflect changing public interest, accentuating the need for healthcare information that aligns with public interests and addresses gaps in available resources.