A Zink1, M Rüth2, B Schuster2, U Darsow2, T Biedermann2, S Ständer3. 1. Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie am Biederstein, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland. alexander.zink@tum.de. 2. Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie am Biederstein, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland. 3. Kompetenzzentrum Chronischer Pruritus (KCP), Klinik für Hautkrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Because affected persons often do not visit a doctor, the prevalence of chronic and acute pruritus in the general population is difficult to determine. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate the frequency and the most common locations of pruritus in German internet users, who-with 62.4 million persons-represent a large majority of the German population, by analysing the Google search volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant keywords for the subject "pruritus" were identified and analysed using the Google AdWords Keyword Planner. The assessment period was January 2015 to December 2016. RESULTS: In total the Google AdWords Keyword Planner identified 701 keywords for the topic "Juckreiz" (German lay word for pruritus), resulting in 7,531,890 pruritus-related Google searches during the assessment period. Most common search terms were the German lay term for atopic eczema ("Neurodermitis", 23.7%), the German lay term for psoriasis ("Schuppenflechte", 17.8%) and "psoriasis" (13%). The German lay term for pruritus ("Juckreiz") was only the sixth most searched term (3%). Most searches (72%) focused on influencing factors for pruritus, especially on skin diseases and skin conditions. The most commonly searched location was pruritus on the whole body, followed by anal pruritus. Analysis of the temporal course showed a higher monthly search volume during winter. CONCLUSION: With its unconventional methodology, a Google search engine analysis, this study allows a rough estimation of the medical need of pruritus in the German general population, which seems to be higher than expected. Especially pruritus in the anal area was identified as an unmet medical need.
BACKGROUND: Because affected persons often do not visit a doctor, the prevalence of chronic and acute pruritus in the general population is difficult to determine. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate the frequency and the most common locations of pruritus in German internet users, who-with 62.4 million persons-represent a large majority of the German population, by analysing the Google search volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant keywords for the subject "pruritus" were identified and analysed using the Google AdWords Keyword Planner. The assessment period was January 2015 to December 2016. RESULTS: In total the Google AdWords Keyword Planner identified 701 keywords for the topic "Juckreiz" (German lay word for pruritus), resulting in 7,531,890 pruritus-related Google searches during the assessment period. Most common search terms were the German lay term for atopic eczema ("Neurodermitis", 23.7%), the German lay term for psoriasis ("Schuppenflechte", 17.8%) and "psoriasis" (13%). The German lay term for pruritus ("Juckreiz") was only the sixth most searched term (3%). Most searches (72%) focused on influencing factors for pruritus, especially on skin diseases and skin conditions. The most commonly searched location was pruritus on the whole body, followed by anal pruritus. Analysis of the temporal course showed a higher monthly search volume during winter. CONCLUSION: With its unconventional methodology, a Google search engine analysis, this study allows a rough estimation of the medical need of pruritus in the German general population, which seems to be higher than expected. Especially pruritus in the anal area was identified as an unmet medical need.
Entities:
Keywords:
Internet; Keywords; Location; Medical needs; Prevalence
Authors: Uwe Matterne; Christian J Apfelbacher; Adrian Loerbroks; Tamara Schwarzer; Marion Büttner; Robert Ofenloch; Thomas L Diepgen; Elke Weisshaar Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 4.437
Authors: Daniela Weiss; Imke Nordhorn; Linda Tizek; Thomas Werfel; Alexander Zink; Tilo Biedermann; Stephan Traidl; Maximilian C Schielein Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2021-09-28 Impact factor: 3.875