Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany

Abstract Risk communication during pandemics is an element of utmost importance. Understanding the level of public attention—a prerequisite for effective communication—implicates expensive and time-consuming surveys. We hypothesise that the relative search volume from Google Trends could be used as...

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Autores principales:	Kaja Kristensen, Eva Lorenz, Jürgen May, Ricardo Strauss
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/960d082d40bf4593a176c555ae9fb53a
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:960d082d40bf4593a176c555ae9fb53a2021-12-02T17:05:12ZExploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany10.1038/s41598-021-85873-42045-2322https://doaj.org/article/960d082d40bf4593a176c555ae9fb53a2021-03-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85873-4https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Risk communication during pandemics is an element of utmost importance. Understanding the level of public attention—a prerequisite for effective communication—implicates expensive and time-consuming surveys. We hypothesise that the relative search volume from Google Trends could be used as an indicator of public attention of a disease and its prevention measures. The search terms ‘RKI’ (Robert Koch Institute, national public health authority in Germany), ‘corona’ and ‘protective mask’ in German language were shortlisted. Cross-correlations between these terms and the reported cases from 15 February to 27 April were conducted for each German federal state. The findings were contrasted against a timeline of official communications concerning COVID-19. The highest correlations of the term ‘RKI’ with reported COVID-19 cases were found between lags of − 2 and − 12 days, meaning web searches were already performed from 2 to 12 days before case numbers increased. A similar pattern was seen for the term ‘corona’. Cross-correlations indicated that most searches on ‘protective mask’ were performed from 6 to 12 days after the peak of cases. The results for the term ‘protective mask’ indicate a degree of confusion in the population. This is supported by conflicting recommendations to wear face masks during the first wave. The relative search volumes could be a useful tool to provide timely and location-specific information on public attention for risk communication.Kaja KristensenEva LorenzJürgen MayRicardo StraussNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Kaja Kristensen Eva Lorenz Jürgen May Ricardo Strauss Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany
description	Abstract Risk communication during pandemics is an element of utmost importance. Understanding the level of public attention—a prerequisite for effective communication—implicates expensive and time-consuming surveys. We hypothesise that the relative search volume from Google Trends could be used as an indicator of public attention of a disease and its prevention measures. The search terms ‘RKI’ (Robert Koch Institute, national public health authority in Germany), ‘corona’ and ‘protective mask’ in German language were shortlisted. Cross-correlations between these terms and the reported cases from 15 February to 27 April were conducted for each German federal state. The findings were contrasted against a timeline of official communications concerning COVID-19. The highest correlations of the term ‘RKI’ with reported COVID-19 cases were found between lags of − 2 and − 12 days, meaning web searches were already performed from 2 to 12 days before case numbers increased. A similar pattern was seen for the term ‘corona’. Cross-correlations indicated that most searches on ‘protective mask’ were performed from 6 to 12 days after the peak of cases. The results for the term ‘protective mask’ indicate a degree of confusion in the population. This is supported by conflicting recommendations to wear face masks during the first wave. The relative search volumes could be a useful tool to provide timely and location-specific information on public attention for risk communication.
format	article
author	Kaja Kristensen Eva Lorenz Jürgen May Ricardo Strauss
author_facet	Kaja Kristensen Eva Lorenz Jürgen May Ricardo Strauss
author_sort	Kaja Kristensen
title	Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany
title_short	Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany
title_full	Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany
title_fullStr	Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany
title_full_unstemmed	Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany
title_sort	exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during covid-19 in germany
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/960d082d40bf4593a176c555ae9fb53a
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Exploring the use of web searches for risk communication during COVID-19 in Germany

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