Online health information-seeking behaviours for low back pain in the United Kingdom: analysis of data from Google trends and the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2004-2019.

Patel, Harpal; Shepherd, Thomas A

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of global disability. Timely health-seeking is crucial for early diagnosis and management of pathologies. Despite increases in internet usage, there is sparse literature regarding online health information-seeking behaviours (OHISBs) for LBP and how they correlate with the LBP disease burden in the UK. To examine OHISB trends, we conducted Prais-Winsten analyses on monthly search volume data from Google Trends in the UK between 1 January 2004 and 1 December 2019. Cross-correlation analyses assessed the relationship between annual LBP search volume and LBP morbidity and mortality data from the Global Burden of Disease study (2004-2019). From 2004 to 2019, the trend in LBP search volume was curvilinear (β=1.27, t=5.00, p<0.001), with a slope change around the end of 2006. There was a negative linear trend (β=-0.25, t35=-1.52, p<0.14) from 2004 to 2006 and a positive linear trend (β=0.67, t108=9.17, p<0.001) from 2007 to 2019. Cross-correlations revealed positive associations between search volume and disease burden indicators for LBP such as prevalence and incidence at lags 4 and 5. A rising trend in OHISBs for LBP was noted between 2004 and 2019. This trend positively correlates with incidence, prevalence and burden measures. These findings emphasise the importance of high-quality online resources to increase awareness around LBP, facilitating early diagnosis and management. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.]

Citation

Patel, H., & Shepherd, T. A. (in press). Online health information-seeking behaviours for low back pain in the United Kingdom: analysis of data from Google trends and the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2004-2019. International Health, Article ihae020. https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae020

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 8, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 23, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 24, 2025
• Journal: International Health
• Print ISSN: 1876-3413
• Electronic ISSN: 1876-3405
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: ihae020
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae020
• Keywords: infodemiology, Google Trends, low back pain, disability, Global Burden of Disease, online health information seeking
• Publisher URL: https://apps.crossref.org/pendingpub/pendingpub.html?doi=10.1093%2Finthealth%2Fihae020