title: The utility of Google Trends data to examine interest in cancer screening.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the utility of January 2004 to April 2014 Google Trends data from information searches for cancer screenings and preparations as a complement to population screening data, which are traditionally estimated through costly population-level surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  State-level data across the USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons who searched for terms related to cancer screening using Google, and persons who participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  (1) State-level Google Trends data, providing relative search volume (RSV) data scaled to the highest search proportion per week (RSV100) for search terms over time since 2004 and across different geographical locations. (2) RSV of new screening tests, free/low-cost screening for breast and colorectal cancer, and new preparations for colonoscopy (Prepopik). (3) State-level breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer screening rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlations between Google Trends and BRFSS data ranged from 0.55 for ever having had a colonoscopy to 0.14 for having a Pap smear within the past 3 years. Free/low-cost mammography and colonoscopy showed higher RSV during their respective cancer awareness months. RSV for Miralax remained stable, while interest in Prepopik increased over time. RSV for lung cancer screening, virtual colonoscopy and three-dimensional mammography was low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Google Trends data provides enormous scientific possibilities, but are not a suitable substitute for, but may complement, traditional data collection and analysis about cancer screening and related interests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, St. Louis, Missouri, USA Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schootman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavazos-Rehg
authors.affiliation: Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA Division of General Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Jeffe
authors.affiliation: Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA Division of General Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McQueen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eberth
authors.affiliation: Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057386:Search Engine / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; PUBLIC HEALTH