The Rise of Public Health 2.0: An Infodemiological Study of Stroke Using Google Trends Search Queries in Malaysia

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The dawn of “infodemiology” facilitates real time information seeking behavior to be available through data-mining within health Web 2.0. This investigation aimed to explore real time virtual health seeking information behaviors through geospatial-temporal patterns of search volumes in user-specified terms. METHODS: Fifteen-year retrospective web-based infodemiological data using Google Trends with filters ‘Malaysia,’ ‘Health,’ and ‘Web’ from January 2004-March 2019. Principal and related terms of “stroke” were included. Trends and geo-mapping of health seeking behaviors with autocorrelations, partial autocorrelations were computed through R and Wessa Time Series Function (95%CI: set as white noise). Pearson correlation was calculated using SPSS version 23.0. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Analysis yielded 6282 validated hits to conceptualize Malaysia’s “STROKE 2.0.” Search volume showed cyclical trend with irregular patterns. Autocorrelation reported statistically significant scores. Stroke-related search terms included “stroke and brain” (r=0.25; p=0.001), “stroke and signs” (r=0.16; p=0.034), “stroke and family history” (r=0.41; p<0.001). Geo-mapping with highest regions of flux volumes included Kelantan (100), Perlis (67), Negeri Sembilan (63), Kuala Lumpur (55) and Terengganu (54). Top five flux volumes across cities included Kota Bharu (100), Batu Caves (67), Seremban (56), Kuala Terengganu (50) and Sungai Petani (48). Query volumes were normalized. DISCUSSION: “STROKE 2.0” connotes health seeking behaviors focused on disease characteristics rather than treatment/preventions. Flux behaviors were dense in low socio-economic regions compared to metropolitans. We fostered new epidemiological approach, complementing classical epidemiology to provide contexts realities data on stroke. This accelerates policy drafting for preventive measures.

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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-97,
title = {The Rise of Public Health 2.0: An Infodemiological Study of Stroke Using Google Trends Search Queries in Malaysia},
author = {Kurubaran Ganasegeran and Alan Ch’ng Swee Hock and Irene Looi},
year  = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The dawn of “infodemiology” facilitates real time information seeking behavior to be available through data-mining within health Web 2.0. This investigation aimed to explore real time virtual health seeking information behaviors through geospatial-temporal patterns of search volumes in user-specified terms. METHODS: Fifteen-year retrospective web-based infodemiological data using Google Trends with filters ‘Malaysia,’ ‘Health,’ and ‘Web’ from January 2004-March 2019. Principal and related terms of “stroke” were included. Trends and geo-mapping of health seeking behaviors with autocorrelations, partial autocorrelations were computed through R and Wessa Time Series Function (95%CI: set as white noise). Pearson correlation was calculated using SPSS version 23.0. Statistical significance was set at p\<0.05. RESULTS: Analysis yielded 6282 validated hits to conceptualize Malaysia’s “STROKE 2.0.” Search volume showed cyclical trend with irregular patterns. Autocorrelation reported statistically significant scores. Stroke-related search terms included “stroke and brain” (r=0.25; p=0.001), “stroke and signs” (r=0.16; p=0.034), “stroke and family history” (r=0.41; p\<0.001). Geo-mapping with highest regions of flux volumes included Kelantan (100), Perlis (67), Negeri Sembilan (63), Kuala Lumpur (55) and Terengganu (54). Top five flux volumes across cities included Kota Bharu (100), Batu Caves (67), Seremban (56), Kuala Terengganu (50) and Sungai Petani (48). Query volumes were normalized. DISCUSSION: “STROKE 2.0” connotes health seeking behaviors focused on disease characteristics rather than treatment/preventions. Flux behaviors were dense in low socio-economic regions compared to metropolitans. We fostered new epidemiological approach, complementing classical epidemiology to provide contexts realities data on stroke. This accelerates policy drafting for preventive measures.},
note = {Type: ORAL PRESENTATION; Organisation: Clinical Research Center Seberang Jaya Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, Medical Department, Seberang Jaya Hospital, Penang, Malaysia},
keywords = {Digital Epidemiology, google trends, Infodemiology, Malaysia, Stroke 2.0},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}