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Heartburn-Related Internet Searches and Trends of Interest across Six Western Countries: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis Using Google Ads Keyword Planner

Author

Listed:
  • Mikołaj Kamiński

    (Sanprobi Sp.z.o.o. Sp.K., 70-535 Szczecin, Poland
    Faculty of Medicine I, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-780 Poznan, Poland)

  • Igor Łoniewski

    (Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Agata Misera

    (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Wojciech Marlicz

    (Department of Gastroenterology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland)

Abstract

The internet is becoming the main source of health-related information. We aimed to investigate data regarding heartburn-related searches made by Google users from Australia, Canada, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We retrospectively analyzed data from Google Ads Keywords Planner. We extracted search volumes of keywords associated with “heartburn” for June 2015 to May 2019. The data were generated in the respective primary language. The number of searches per 1000 Google-user years was as follows: 177.4 (Australia), 178.1 (Canada), 123.8 (Germany), 199.7 (Poland), 152.5 (United Kingdom), and 194.5 (United States). The users were particularly interested in treatment (19.0 to 41.3%), diet (4.8 to 10.7%), symptoms (2.6 to 13.1%), and causes (3.7 to 10.0%). In all countries except Germany, the number of heartburn-related queries significantly increased over the analyzed period. For Canada, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom, query numbers were significantly lowest in summer; there was no significant seasonal trend for Australia and the United States. The number of heartburn-related queries has increased over the past four years, and a seasonal pattern may exist in certain regions. The trends in heartburn-related searches may reflect the scale of the complaint, and should be verified through future epidemiological studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikołaj Kamiński & Igor Łoniewski & Agata Misera & Wojciech Marlicz, 2019. "Heartburn-Related Internet Searches and Trends of Interest across Six Western Countries: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis Using Google Ads Keyword Planner," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:23:p:4591-:d:288861
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    Cited by:

    1. Artur Strzelecki, 2020. "Google Medical Update: Why Is the Search Engine Decreasing Visibility of Health and Medical Information Websites?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Mikołaj Kamiński & Linda Tizek & Alexander Zink, 2021. "‘Dr. Google, What Is That on My Skin?’—Internet Searches Related to Skin Problems: Google Trends Data from 2004 to 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.

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