Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis
BackgroundLiver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met worldwide, and the need for LT is still increasing. The death rates on the waiting list remain too high. Objectiv...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e21656 |
| _version_ | 1797735827605815296 |
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| author | Maria Effenberger Andreas Kronbichler Erica Bettac Felix Grabherr Christoph Grander Timon Erik Adolph Gert Mayer Heinz Zoller Paul Perco Herbert Tilg |
| author_facet | Maria Effenberger Andreas Kronbichler Erica Bettac Felix Grabherr Christoph Grander Timon Erik Adolph Gert Mayer Heinz Zoller Paul Perco Herbert Tilg |
| author_sort | Maria Effenberger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundLiver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met worldwide, and the need for LT is still increasing. The death rates on the waiting list remain too high.
ObjectiveIt is, therefore, critical to raise awareness among the public and health care providers and in turn increasingly acquire donors.
MethodsWe performed a Google Trends search using the search terms liver transplantation and liver transplant on October 15, 2020. On the basis of the resulting monthly data, the annual average Google Trends indices were calculated for the years 2004 to 2018. We not only investigated the trend worldwide but also used data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Spain, and Eurotransplant. Using pairwise Spearman correlations, Google Trends indices were examined over time and compared with the total number of liver transplants retrieved from the respective official websites of UNOS, the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes, and Eurotransplant.
ResultsFrom 2004 to 2018, there was a significant decrease in the worldwide Google Trends index from 78.2 in 2004 to 20.5 in 2018 (–71.2%). This trend was more evident in UNOS than in the Eurotransplant group. In the same period, the number of transplanted livers increased worldwide. The waiting list mortality rate was 31% for Eurotransplant and 29% for UNOS. However, in Spain, where there are excellent awareness programs, the Google Trends index remained stable over the years with comparable, increasing LT numbers but a significantly lower waiting list mortality (15%).
ConclusionsPublic awareness in LT has decreased significantly over the past two decades. Therefore, novel awareness programs should be initialized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:04:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf6552f29cfd42d28b886c920da27d11 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:04:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf6552f29cfd42d28b886c920da27d112023-08-28T18:32:01ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712021-08-01238e2165610.2196/21656Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends AnalysisMaria Effenbergerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0499-9953Andreas Kronbichlerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2945-2946Erica Bettachttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8515-505XFelix Grabherrhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5731-8253Christoph Granderhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2971-6224Timon Erik Adolphhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4736-830XGert Mayerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4605-1789Heinz Zollerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1794-422XPaul Percohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2087-5691Herbert Tilghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4235-2579 BackgroundLiver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Less than 10% of global transplantation needs are met worldwide, and the need for LT is still increasing. The death rates on the waiting list remain too high. ObjectiveIt is, therefore, critical to raise awareness among the public and health care providers and in turn increasingly acquire donors. MethodsWe performed a Google Trends search using the search terms liver transplantation and liver transplant on October 15, 2020. On the basis of the resulting monthly data, the annual average Google Trends indices were calculated for the years 2004 to 2018. We not only investigated the trend worldwide but also used data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Spain, and Eurotransplant. Using pairwise Spearman correlations, Google Trends indices were examined over time and compared with the total number of liver transplants retrieved from the respective official websites of UNOS, the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes, and Eurotransplant. ResultsFrom 2004 to 2018, there was a significant decrease in the worldwide Google Trends index from 78.2 in 2004 to 20.5 in 2018 (–71.2%). This trend was more evident in UNOS than in the Eurotransplant group. In the same period, the number of transplanted livers increased worldwide. The waiting list mortality rate was 31% for Eurotransplant and 29% for UNOS. However, in Spain, where there are excellent awareness programs, the Google Trends index remained stable over the years with comparable, increasing LT numbers but a significantly lower waiting list mortality (15%). ConclusionsPublic awareness in LT has decreased significantly over the past two decades. Therefore, novel awareness programs should be initialized.https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e21656 |
| spellingShingle | Maria Effenberger Andreas Kronbichler Erica Bettac Felix Grabherr Christoph Grander Timon Erik Adolph Gert Mayer Heinz Zoller Paul Perco Herbert Tilg Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis |
| title_full | Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis |
| title_short | Using Infodemiology Metrics to Assess Public Interest in Liver Transplantation: Google Trends Analysis |
| title_sort | using infodemiology metrics to assess public interest in liver transplantation google trends analysis |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e21656 |
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