Exploring the Thoughts, Needs and Fears of Chemotherapy Patients-An Analysis Based on Google Search Behavior.
Deniz ÖzistanbulluRonja WeberMaria SchröderStefan KippenbergerJohannes KleemannHenner StegeRoland KaufmannBastian SchillingStephan GrabbeRaphael WilhelmPublished in: Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)
Chemotherapy poses both physical and psychological challenges for patients, prompting many to seek answers independently through online resources. This study investigates German Google search behavior regarding chemotherapy-related terms using Google AdWords data from September 2018 to September 2022 to gain insights into patient concerns and needs. A total of 1461 search terms associated with "chemotherapy" were identified, representing 1,749,312 to 28,958,400 search queries. These terms were categorized into four groups based on frequency and analyzed. Queries related to "adjuvant" and "neoadjuvant" chemotherapy, as well as "immunotherapy", suggest potential confusion among patients. Breast cancer emerged as the most searched tumor type, with hair loss, its management, and dermatological issues being the most searched side effects. These findings underscore the role of search engines such as Google in facilitating access to healthcare information and provide valuable insights into patient thoughts and needs. Healthcare providers can leverage this information to deliver patient-centric care and optimize treatment outcomes.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- locally advanced
- neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- chronic kidney disease
- prognostic factors
- peritoneal dialysis
- health information
- palliative care
- physical activity
- machine learning
- rectal cancer
- radiation therapy
- social media
- big data
- health insurance
- patient reported
- artificial intelligence