title: Web-based surveillance of public information needs for informing preconception interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes can be minimized through the adoption of healthy lifestyles before pregnancy by women of childbearing age. Initiatives for promotion of preconception health may be difficult to implement. Internet can be used to build tailored health interventions through identification of the public's information needs. To this aim, we developed a semi-automatic web-based system for monitoring Google searches, web pages and activity on social networks, regarding preconception health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines and on the actual search behaviors of Italian Internet users, we defined a set of keywords targeting preconception care topics. Using these keywords, we analyzed the usage of Google search engine and identified web pages containing preconception care recommendations. We also monitored how the selected web pages were shared on social networks. We analyzed discrepancies between searched and published information and the sharing pattern of the topics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 1,807 Google search queries which generated a total of 1,995,030 searches during the study period. Less than 10% of the reviewed pages contained preconception care information and in 42.8% information was consistent with ACOG guidelines. Facebook was the most used social network for sharing. Nutrition, Chronic Diseases and Infectious Diseases were the most published and searched topics. Regarding Genetic Risk and Folic Acid, a high search volume was not associated to a high web page production, while Medication pages were more frequently published than searched. Vaccinations elicited high sharing although web page production was low; this effect was quite variable in time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study represent a resource to prioritize communication on specific topics on the web, to address misconceptions, and to tailor interventions to specific populations.
authors: Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: D'Ambrosio
authors: Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Agricola
authors: Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Russo
authors: Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Gesualdo
authors: Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Pandolfi
authors: Office for Research Promotion, Department of the Hospital Management and Pharmacy, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Bortolus
authors: Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Castellani
authors: Clinical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors: Faustina
authors: F
authors: Lalatta
authors: Alessandra Lisi International Centre on Birth Defects and Prematurity, Rome, Italy.
authors: Pierpaolo
authors: P
authors: Mastroiacovo
authors: Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Alberto Eugenio
authors: AE
authors: Tozzi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy