Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract BackgroundThe noninvasive imaging examinations of mammography (MG), low-dose computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening (LCS), and CT colonography (CTC) play important roles in screening for the most common cancer types. Internet search data can be used to gau...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-03-01
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| Series: | JMIR Cancer |
| Online Access: | https://cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e53328 |
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| author | Zachary D Zippi Isabel O Cortopassi Rolf A Grage Elizabeth M Johnson Matthew R McCann Patricia J Mergo Sushil K Sonavane Justin T Stowell Brent P Little |
| author_facet | Zachary D Zippi Isabel O Cortopassi Rolf A Grage Elizabeth M Johnson Matthew R McCann Patricia J Mergo Sushil K Sonavane Justin T Stowell Brent P Little |
| author_sort | Zachary D Zippi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
BackgroundThe noninvasive imaging examinations of mammography (MG), low-dose computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening (LCS), and CT colonography (CTC) play important roles in screening for the most common cancer types. Internet search data can be used to gauge public interest in screening techniques, assess common screening-related questions and concerns, and formulate public awareness strategies.
ObjectiveThis study aims to compare historical Google search volumes for MG, LCS, and CTC and to determine the most common search topics.
MethodsGoogle Trends data were used to quantify relative Google search frequencies for these imaging screening modalities over the last 2 decades. A commercial search engine tracking product (keywordtool.io) was used to assess the content of related Google queries over the year from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, and 2 authors used an iterative process to agree upon a list of thematic categories for these queries. Queries with at least 10 monthly instances were independently assigned to the most appropriate category by the 2 authors, with disagreements resolved by consensus.
ResultsThe mean 20-year relative search volume for MG was approximately 10-fold higher than for LCS and 25-fold higher than for CTC. Search volumes for LCS have trended upward since 2011. The most common topics of MG-related searches included nearby screening locations (60,850/253,810, 24%) and inquiries about procedural discomfort (28,970/253,810, 11%). Most common LCS-related searches included CT-specific inquiries (5380/11,150, 48%) or general inquiries (1790/11,150, 16%), use of artificial intelligence or deep learning (1210/11,150, 11%), and eligibility criteria (1020/11,150, 9%). For CTC, the most common searches were CT-specific inquiries (1800/5590, 32%) or procedural details (1380/5590, 25%).
ConclusionsOver the past 2 decades, Google search volumes have been significantly higher for MG than for either LCS or CTC, although search volumes for LCS have trended upward since 2011. Knowledge of public interest and queries related to imaging-based screening techniques may help guide public awareness efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c01c712dd2094e04a56a64822bb9cbb6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2369-1999 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Cancer |
| spelling | doaj-art-c01c712dd2094e04a56a64822bb9cbb62025-08-20T03:02:55ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Cancer2369-19992025-03-0111e53328e5332810.2196/53328Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional StudyZachary D Zippihttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-3573-8972Isabel O Cortopassihttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-9695-3524Rolf A Gragehttp://orcid.org/0009-0000-8199-119XElizabeth M Johnsonhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7349-0619Matthew R McCannhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6556-5318Patricia J Mergohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2189-3381Sushil K Sonavanehttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8823-7261Justin T Stowellhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4763-7394Brent P Littlehttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6657-8241 Abstract BackgroundThe noninvasive imaging examinations of mammography (MG), low-dose computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening (LCS), and CT colonography (CTC) play important roles in screening for the most common cancer types. Internet search data can be used to gauge public interest in screening techniques, assess common screening-related questions and concerns, and formulate public awareness strategies. ObjectiveThis study aims to compare historical Google search volumes for MG, LCS, and CTC and to determine the most common search topics. MethodsGoogle Trends data were used to quantify relative Google search frequencies for these imaging screening modalities over the last 2 decades. A commercial search engine tracking product (keywordtool.io) was used to assess the content of related Google queries over the year from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, and 2 authors used an iterative process to agree upon a list of thematic categories for these queries. Queries with at least 10 monthly instances were independently assigned to the most appropriate category by the 2 authors, with disagreements resolved by consensus. ResultsThe mean 20-year relative search volume for MG was approximately 10-fold higher than for LCS and 25-fold higher than for CTC. Search volumes for LCS have trended upward since 2011. The most common topics of MG-related searches included nearby screening locations (60,850/253,810, 24%) and inquiries about procedural discomfort (28,970/253,810, 11%). Most common LCS-related searches included CT-specific inquiries (5380/11,150, 48%) or general inquiries (1790/11,150, 16%), use of artificial intelligence or deep learning (1210/11,150, 11%), and eligibility criteria (1020/11,150, 9%). For CTC, the most common searches were CT-specific inquiries (1800/5590, 32%) or procedural details (1380/5590, 25%). ConclusionsOver the past 2 decades, Google search volumes have been significantly higher for MG than for either LCS or CTC, although search volumes for LCS have trended upward since 2011. Knowledge of public interest and queries related to imaging-based screening techniques may help guide public awareness efforts.https://cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e53328 |
| spellingShingle | Zachary D Zippi Isabel O Cortopassi Rolf A Grage Elizabeth M Johnson Matthew R McCann Patricia J Mergo Sushil K Sonavane Justin T Stowell Brent P Little Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study JMIR Cancer |
| title | Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Assessing Public Interest in Mammography, Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening, and Computed Tomography Colonography Screening Examinations Using Internet Search Data: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | assessing public interest in mammography computed tomography lung cancer screening and computed tomography colonography screening examinations using internet search data cross sectional study |
| url | https://cancer.jmir.org/2025/1/e53328 |
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