Using Google Trends Data to Study Public Interest in Breast Cancer Screening in Malaysia

Overview

Journal Asian Pac J Cancer Prev

Specialty Oncology

Date 2019 May 26

PMID 31127903

Citations 12

Authors

Mazlyfarina Mohamad

Hui Sin Kok

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the public pattern in seeking breast cancer screening information in Malaysia using Google Trends. Methods: The Google Trends database was evaluated for the relative Internet search popularity of breast cancer and screening-related search terms from 2007 to 2018. Results: Result showed downward trends in breast cancer search, whereas mammogram and tomosynthesis search fluctuated consistently. A significant increment was found during Pink October month. Breast cancer search term achieved the highest popularity in the east coast of Malaysia with [x2 (5, N=661) = 110.93, P<0.05], whereas mammogram attained the highest search volume in central Malaysia [x2 (4, N=67) = 18.90, P<0.05]. The cross-correlation for breast cancer was moderate among northern Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak (0.3 ≤ rs ≤ 0.7). Conclusion: Public interest trend in breast cancer screening is strongly correlated with the breast cancer awareness campaign, Pink October. Breast cancer screening should be promoted in the rural areas in Malaysia.

Citing Articles

Breast Cancer Screening Participation and Internet Search Activity in a Japanese Population: Decade-Long Time-Series Study.

Takahashi N, Nakao M, Nakayama T, Yamazaki T JMIR Cancer. 2025; 11:e64020.

PMID: 40036529 PMC: 11896085. DOI: 10.2196/64020.

Interest in mammography across European countries: a retrospective "Google Trends" comparative study.

Di Gennaro G, Licata F, Greco F, Zobel B, Mallio C Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2023; 13(11):7523-7529.

PMID: 37969630 PMC: 10644145. DOI: 10.21037/qims-23-196.

The Characteristics, Uses, and Biases of Studies Related to Malignancies Using Google Trends: Systematic Review.

Kaminski M, Czarny J, Skrzypczak P, Sienicki K, Roszak M J Med Internet Res. 2023; 25:e47582.

PMID: 37540544 PMC: 10439473. DOI: 10.2196/47582.

Reddit and Google Activity Related to Non-COVID Epidemic Diseases Surged at Start of COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Study.

Cummins J, Lipworth A JMIR Form Res. 2023; 7:e44603.

PMID: 37256832 PMC: 10337364. DOI: 10.2196/44603.

Impact of COVID-19 on Public Interest in Breast Cancer Screening and Related Symptoms: Google Trends Analysis.

Tan S, Tang M, Ong C, Tan V, Shannon N JMIR Cancer. 2023; 9:e39105.

PMID: 37163461 PMC: 10246661. DOI: 10.2196/39105.

References

Mahmud A, Aljunid S . Availability and accessibility of subsidized mammogram screening program in peninsular Malaysia: A preliminary study using travel impedance approach. PLoS One. 2018; 13(2):e0191764. PMC: 5794099. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191764. View

Hadi M, Hassali M, Shafie A, Awaisu A . Evaluation of breast cancer awareness among female university students in Malaysia. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2014; 8(1):29-34. PMC: 4140574. DOI: 10.4321/s1886-36552010000100003. View

Cheng M, Ling D, Nanu P K, Nording H, Lim C . Factors influencing late stage of breast cancer at presentation in a district Hospital - Segamat Hospital, Johor. Med J Malaysia. 2015; 70(3):148-52. View

Brownstein J, Freifeld C, Madoff L . Digital disease detection--harnessing the Web for public health surveillance. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360(21):2153-5, 2157. PMC: 2917042. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp0900702. View

Saxena N, Hartman M, Bhoo-Pathy N, Lim J, Aw T, Iau P . Breast cancer in South East Asia: comparison of presentation and outcome between a middle income and a high income country. World J Surg. 2012; 36(12):2838-46. DOI: 10.1007/s00268-012-1746-2. View

Foroughi F, Lam A, Lim M, Saremi N, Ahmadvand A . "Googling" for Cancer: An Infodemiological Assessment of Online Search Interests in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. JMIR Cancer. 2017; 2(1):e5. PMC: 5369660. DOI: 10.2196/cancer.5212. View

Norsaadah B, Rahmah M, Rampal K, Knight A . Understanding barriers to Malaysian women with breast cancer seeking help. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2012; 13(8):3723-30. DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2012.13.8.3723. View

Akhtari-Zavare M, Juni M, Ismail I, Said S, Latiff L . Barriers to breast self examination practice among Malaysian female students: a cross sectional study. Springerplus. 2015; 4:692. PMC: 4642456. DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-1491-8. View

Hasan T, Shah S, Hassan M, Safian N, Azhar Z, Syed Abdul Rahim S . Poor Knowledge and Practice Towards Breast Cancer among Women in Baghdad City, Iraq. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015; 16(15):6669-72. DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.15.6669. View

10.

Pelat C, Turbelin C, Bar-Hen A, Flahault A, Valleron A . More diseases tracked by using Google Trends. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009; 15(8):1327-8. PMC: 2815981. DOI: 10.3201/eid1508.090299. View

11.

Ibrahim N, Dahlui M, Aina E, Al-Sadat N . Who are the breast cancer survivors in Malaysia?. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2012; 13(5):2213-8. DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2012.13.5.2213. View

12.

Corley C, Cook D, Mikler A, Singh K . Using Web and social media for influenza surveillance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2010; 680:559-64. PMC: 7123932. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-5913-3_61. View

13.

Ginsberg J, Mohebbi M, Patel R, Brammer L, Smolinski M, Brilliant L . Detecting influenza epidemics using search engine query data. Nature. 2008; 457(7232):1012-4. DOI: 10.1038/nature07634. View

14.

Wilson N, Mason K, Tobias M, Peacey M, Huang Q, Baker M . Interpreting Google flu trends data for pandemic H1N1 influenza: the New Zealand experience. Euro Surveill. 2009; 14(44). View

15.

Valdivia A, Monge-Corella S . Diseases tracked by using Google trends, Spain. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009; 16(1):168. PMC: 2874385. DOI: 10.3201/eid1601.091308. View

16.

Al-Naggar R, Md Isa Z, Shah S, Nor M, Chen R, Ismail F . Eight year survival among breast cancer Malaysian women from University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2010; 10(6):1075-8. View

17.

Polgreen P, Chen Y, Pennock D, Nelson F . Using internet searches for influenza surveillance. Clin Infect Dis. 2008; 47(11):1443-8. DOI: 10.1086/593098. View

18.

Vasconcellos-Silva P, Barbosa Feres Carvalho D, Trajano V, de La Rocque L, Sawada A, Juvanhol L . Using Google Trends Data to Study Public Interest in Breast Cancer Screening in Brazil: Why Not a Pink February?. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017; 3(2):e17. PMC: 5399222. DOI: 10.2196/publichealth.7015. View

19.

Helvie M . Digital mammography imaging: breast tomosynthesis and advanced applications. Radiol Clin North Am. 2010; 48(5):917-29. PMC: 3118307. DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2010.06.009. View

20.

Hulth A, Rydevik G, Linde A . Web queries as a source for syndromic surveillance. PLoS One. 2009; 4(2):e4378. PMC: 2634970. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004378. View