Search trends and quality of information about toothache on the internet

• Grant number: 14/21292-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Social and Preventive Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Cruvinel da Silva
• Grantee: Matheus Lotto de Almeida Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The worldwide spreading of the Internet revolutionized the dissemination of health information among professionals and patients. This study aims (1) to determine search trends for information on toothache of Internet users and (2) to assess the quality of information on toothache from Internet websites. Monthly estimates of the absolute number of times a list term related to toothache was searched in Google (Aug 2012-Aug 2014) will be determined by Google AdWordsTM tool. The search volume data on toothache in Brazil, United States, United Kingdom and Australia will be obtained by Google TrendsTM. The results will be represented as a time series curve of trends variation of the Search Index Value, ranged 0-100. The quality of information on toothache from Internet will be assessed by DISCERN instrument. Previously, 100 websites written in Brazilian Portuguese will be selected on Google, Baidu, Yahoo! and Bing, and categorized as academic, dental, non-dental, commercial, media, discussion groups/social networks and unspecified. Two independent and calibrated reviewers will determine a score between 16 and 80 for each website, according to DISCERN and JAMA Benchmark criteria for the analysis of the quality of written health information. Statistical analysis will be conducted based on the normality and homogeneity of data. Values of P<0,05 will be considered for statistical significant differences.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LOTTO, MATHEUS; AYALA AGUIRRE, PATRICIA ESTEFANIA; RIOS, DANIELA; ANDRADE MOREIRA MACHADO, MARIA APARECIDA; PEREIRA CRUVINEL, AGNES FATIMA; CRUVINEL, THIAGO. Analysis of the interests of Google users on toothache information. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 10, OCT 19 2017. (14/21292-2)

LOTTO, MATHEUS; AGUIRRE, PATRICIA ESTEFANIA AYALA; LOURENCO NETO, NATALINO; CRUVINEL, AGNES FATIMA; CRUVINEL, THIAGO. Is the Quality of Toothache-Related Information Published in Brazilian Websites Adequate to Assist People in Seeking Dental Treatment?. ORAL HEALTH & PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY, v. 18, n. 2, p. 301-309, MAR-APR 2020. (17/25899-7, 14/21292-2)

LOTTO, MATHEUS; MASCHIO, KAIANE FATIMA; SILVA, KIMBERLY KAMILA; AYALA AGUIRRE, PATRICIA ESTEFANIA; CRUVINEL, AGNES; CRUVINEL, THIAGO. eHEALS as a predictive factor of digital health information seeking behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students. HEALTH PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2021-10-29. (14/21292-2, 19/27242-0)