title: Web search behavior for multiple sclerosis: An infodemiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Millions of people worldwide use the Internet daily as a source of health information. Google is the most popular search engine and is used by patients and physicians to search for online health-related information. This study aimed to evaluate changes in Web search behavior occurring in English-speaking countries over time for the term "multiple sclerosis" (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Google Trends, data on global search queries for the term "multiple sclerosis" between January 2004 and December 2013 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over time there was a reduction in tendency to search for the term "multiple sclerosis". Most terms associated with the search queries for MS were related to causes and symptoms (including pain) of the disease, and most peaks in search volume over the period studied corresponded to news of celebrities having MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most people appear to use search engines to look for MS to obtain information on symptoms, possibly to aid initial self-diagnosis. News on celebrities with MS seem to be a major factor that influences online search behavior.
authors: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy; Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy. Electronic address: dr.francescobrigo@gmail.com.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Brigo
authors: Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy.
authors: Piergiorgio
authors: P
authors: Lochner
authors: Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy.
authors: Frediano
authors: F
authors: Tezzon
authors: Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Nardone
keywords: Google Trends; Infodemiology; Internet; Multiple sclerosis; Web