Research Article
"Dr. Google, I Have a Toothache"- Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Toothache-Related Internet Searches with Google Trends Data
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between online searches for the term toothache and the COVID-19 pandemic in Türkiye by using Google Trends (GT) data.
Methods: GT search was performed for the term "toothache" (in Turkish) for the period from March 03, 2019, to May 28, 2022, across Türkiye, and relative search volumes (RSV) per week were recorded. The dates between March 03, 2019-March 07, 2020 were considered as the pre-pandemic period, and between March 08, 2020-May 28, 2022 were considered as the pandemic period. The pandemic period was further divided into three groups; the early period, the full lockdown period, and the other weeks during the pandemic period. The mean RSV values of the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were compared, and the relationship between the mean RSV values of pandemic period groups was also examined. The correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases and the RSV was analyzed. The statistical significance level was accepted as P <.05.
Results: The mean RSV was significantly lower in the pre-pandemic period (62.96±9.98) than in the pandemic period (67.52±11.51) (P <.05). In the early pandemic period group, higher mean RSV was determined than other groups (P<.001). A negative correlation was found between the number of cases and RSV (r= -0.203, P <.05).
Conclusion: Online searches for the term toothache increased during COVID-19 pandemic in Türkiye. Understanding the search trends in online media is critical to determine the interests and needs of the people regarding diseases and to provide the necessary information.
Ethical Statement
This study did not require ethical approval since publicly available online data was used.
Project Number
JDFAU-2023-88 - (294)
References
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- 20. Tsuchiya H. Oral symptoms associated with COVID-19 and their pathogenic mechanisms: A literature review. Dentistry J. 2021;9(2):32. doi:10.3390/dj9020032.
- 21. Yorulmaz M, Yorulmaz S. Lise öğrencilerinin sosyal ağ sitelerini kullanma sürelerinin akademik başarılarına etkisi. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2020;6:27-39.
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Year 2025,
Volume: 35 Issue: 2, 117 - 120, 20.04.2025
Abstract
Project Number
JDFAU-2023-88 - (294)
References
- 1. Jin Y, Yang H, Ji W, et al. Virology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and control of COVID-19. Viruses. 2020;12(4):372. doi:10.3390/v12040372.
- 2. Wang C, Horby PW, Hayden FG, Gao GF. A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):470-473. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30185-9.
- 3. T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 Enfeksiyonu) Genel Bilgiler, Epidemiyoloji ve Tanı. Ankara: T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı HSGM 2020. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/TR-66337/genel-bilgiler-epidemiyoloji-ve-tani.html
- 4. Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci. 2020;12(1):9. doi:10.1038/s41368-020-0075-9.
- 5. Erden Şahin B, Efeoğlu N, Dudak E, Efeoğlu C. COVID-19 pandemisi devam ederken güvenli diş hekimliği uygulamaları. EÜ Dişhek Fak Derg. 2020;COVID ÖZEL:1-12.
- 6. Erdem İ. Koronavirüse (COVID-19) karşı Türkiye’nin karantina ve tedbir politikaları. Turkish Studies. 2020;15(4):377-388. doi:10.7827/TurkishStudies.43703.
- 7. T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı, Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü, Diş Hekimliği Uygulamalarındaki Acil ve Zorunlu Hizmet 2020. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://e-belge.saglik.gov.tr Belge Kodu: 9e27b5f7-06bf-41b4-a68d-2642f5ad20ea
- 8. Kamiński M, Łoniewski I, Marlicz W. “Dr. Google, I am in Pain”—Global Internet Searches Associated with Pain: A Retrospective Analysis of Google Trends Data. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):954. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030954.
- 9. Phillips CA, Barz Leahy A, Li Y, Schapira MM, Bailey LC, Merchant RM. Relationship between state-level Google online search volume and cancer incidence in the United States: retrospective study. J Med Internet Res. 2018;20(1):e6. doi:10.2196/jmir.9339.
- 10. Wu GC, Cao F, Shen HH, Hu LQ, Hu Y, Sam NB. Global public interest in systemic lupus erythematosus: an investigation based on internet search data. Lupus. 2019;28(12):1435-1440. doi:10.1177/09612033-19878502
- 11. Sycinska-Dziarnowska M, Paradowska-Stankiewicz I. Dental challenges and the needs of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Real-time surveillance using Google Trends. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):8999. doi:10.3390/ijerph17-248999.
- 12. Guo H, Zhou Y, Liu X, Tan J. The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the utilization of emergency dental services. J Dent Sci. 2020;15(6):564-567. doi:10.1016/j.jdsci.2020.06.001.
- 13. Rizzato VL, Lotto M, Lourenço Neto N, Oliveira TM, Cruvinel T. Digital surveillance: The interests in toothache-related information after the outbreak of COVID-19. Oral Dis. 2022;28(10):2432-2441. doi:10.1111/odi.13715.
- 14. Mavragani A, Ochoa G. Google Trends in infodemiology and infoveillance: methodology framework. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2019;5(3):e13439. doi:10.2196/13439.
- 15. Nuti SV, Wayda B, Ranasinghe I, et al. The use of Google Trends in health care research: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109583. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.-0109583.
- 16. Jun SP, Yoo HS, Choi S. Ten years of research change using Google Trends: From the perspective of big data utilizations and applications. Technol Forecast Soc Chang. 2018;130:69-87. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2017.10.013.
- 17. Mavragani A, Ochoa G, Tsagarakis KP. Assessing the methods, tools, and statistical approaches in Google Trends research: systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2018;20(8):e270. doi:10.2196/jmir.9645.
- 18. Szilagyi IS, Ullrich T, Lang-illievich K, et al. Google Trends for pain search terms in the world’s most populated regions before and after the first recorded COVID-19 case: infodemiological study. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(3):e27214. doi:10.2196/27214.
- 19. Sofi-Mahmudi A, Shamsoddin E, Ghasemi P, Mehrabi Bahar A, Shaban Azad M, Sadeghi G. Association of COVID-19-imposed lockdown and online searches for toothache in Iran. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21(1):69. doi:10.1186/s12903-021-01361-9.
- 20. Tsuchiya H. Oral symptoms associated with COVID-19 and their pathogenic mechanisms: A literature review. Dentistry J. 2021;9(2):32. doi:10.3390/dj9020032.
- 21. Yorulmaz M, Yorulmaz S. Lise öğrencilerinin sosyal ağ sitelerini kullanma sürelerinin akademik başarılarına etkisi. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2020;6:27-39.
- 22. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu, Hanehalkı Bilişim Teknolojileri (BT) Kullanım Araştırması 2022. Accessed July 6, 2023. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Hanehalki-Bilisim-Teknolojileri-(BT)-Kullanim-Arastirmasi-2022-45587
There are 22 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Dentistry (Other) |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Project Number | JDFAU-2023-88 - (294) |
| Publication Date | April 20, 2025 |
| Submission Date | January 8, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | March 9, 2024 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 35 Issue: 2 |
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