Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis

Authors

  • Majed Ramadan King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Walaa Alshekhi King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Doaa Aboalola King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Siham Aouabdi King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Haneen Alzahrani King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Abrar Ashi Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of applied medical science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Rawiah Alsiary King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.160220254662

Keywords:

Google trends, Breast cancer, Pandemic, Awareness, Public interest

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer awareness month (BCAM) strategy has been established in Saudi Arabia to promote national knowledge about Breast Cancer, as the Saudi Cancer Registry annual reports reported that breast cancer has ranked first among other cancerous diseases in women. Early detection and the treatment in the early stages of the disease will increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients. Many detection techniques have been used for breast cancer. The objectives of this study are to investigate the popular pattern in seeking screening information of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia using Google Trends.

Methods: Data from January 2012 to December 2022 were analyzed for "breast cancer" and "Mammogram" searches. A difference-in-differences design compared pre- and post-COVID-19 search volumes. Ethical approval was obtained, and statistical analysis was conducted using SAS.

Results: Over a decade, interest in breast cancer and mammograms in Saudi Arabia increased steadily. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant decline in both searches. Breast cancer searches decreased notably post-pandemic (p = 0.007), while mammogram searches declined but not significantly (p = 0.31). Regional disparities in search volumes were observed.

Conclusion: Several awareness campaigns especially in the country sides are essential to help increase public awareness and interest.

References

Kolak A, Kamińska M, Sygit K, et al. Primary and secondary prevention of breast cancer. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017;24(4):549-553. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/75943 PMid:29284222

Mohamad M, Kok HS. Using Google Trends Data to Study Public Interest in Breast Cancer Screening in Malaysia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2019;20(5):1427. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.5.1427 PMid:31127903 PMCid:PMC6857874

Abusanad A. Breast Cancer Stage Migration in Saudi Arabia: Examining the Influence of Screening. Glob J Qual Saf Healthc. 2022;5(1):24-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36401/JQSH-21-15 PMid:37260558 PMCid:PMC10229020

Tumor Registry Annual Reports | King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre. Available from: https://www.kfshrc.edu.sa/en/home/hospitals/riyadh/oncologycentreadults/tumorregistryreports Accessed January 14, 2024.

Yan J, Liu Z, Du S, Li J, Ma L, Li L. Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the precision medicine era. Methods Mol Biol. 2020;2204:53-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0904-0_5 PMid:32710314

Ilaboya D, Gibson L, Musoke D. Perceived barriers to early detection of breast cancer in Wakiso District, Uganda using a socioecological approach. Global Health. 2018;14(1):1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0326-0 PMid:29361954 PMCid:PMC5781279

Ginsburg O, Yip CH, Brooks A, et al. Breast cancer early detection: A phased approach to implementation. Cancer. 2020;126(S10):2379-2393. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32887 PMid:32348566 PMCid:PMC7237065

Vetto J, Pommier R, Schmidt W, et al. Use of the "Triple Test" for palpable breast lesions yields high diagnostic accuracy and cost savings. Am J Surg. 1995;169(5):519-522. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9610(99)80209-8 PMid:7747833

Sprague BL, Arao RF, Miglioretti DL, et al. National Performance Benchmarks for Modern Diagnostic Digital Mammography: Update from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. Radiology. 2017;283(1):59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2017161519 PMid:28244803 PMCid:PMC5375630

Ahadzadeh AS, Sharif SP. Online health information seeking among Malaysian women: Technology acceptance model perspective. SEARCH Journal of Media and Communication Research. Published 2017;9(1):47-70. Available from: https://fslmjournals.taylors.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/SEARCH/SEARCH-2017-9-1/SEARCH-2017-P3-9-1.pdf

Saudi Arabia Social Media Statistics 2024. Available from: https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-social-media-statistics/ Accessed on: January 20, 2024.

Alhaddad MS. The use of social media among Saudi residents for medicines related information. Saudi Pharm J. 2018;26(8):1106-1111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2018.05.021 PMid:30510470 PMCid:PMC6257910

Ginsberg J, Mohebbi MH, Patel RS, Brammer L, Smolinski MS, Brilliant L. Detecting influenza epidemics using search engine query data. Nature. 2009;457(7232):1012-1014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07634 PMid:19020500

Polgreen PM, Chen Y, Pennock DM, Nelson FD. Using internet searches for influenza surveillance. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;47(11):1443-1448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/593098 PMid:18954267

Lemoine P, Ebert D, Koga Y, Bertin C. Public interest and awareness regarding general health, sleep quality and mental wellbeing during the early COVID-19 pandemic period: An exploration using Google trends. Sleep Epidemiol. 2022;2:100017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleepe.2021.100017 PMid:35673330 PMCid:PMC8604793

Pullan S, Dey M. Vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccination in the time of COVID-19: A Google Trends analysis. Vaccine. 2021;39(14):1877-1881. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.019 PMid:33715904 PMCid:PMC7936546

Zattoni F, Murat Gül •, Soligo M, et al. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pornography habits: a global analysis of Google Trends. IJIR Your Sex Med J. 2021;33:824-831. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00380-w PMid:33249423 PMCid:PMC7699018

Nguyen L, Novák V. Forecasting seasonal time series based on fuzzy techniques. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 2019;361:114-129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fss.2018.09.010

Barak-Corren Y, Reis BY. Internet activity as a proxy for vaccination compliance. Vaccine. 2015;33(21):2395-2398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.03.100 PMid:25869888 PMCid:PMC4430188

Vasconcellos-Silva PR, Castiel LD, Griep RH, Zanchetta M. Cancer prevention campaigns and internet access: Promoting health or disease? J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008;62(10):876-881. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2007.069054 PMid:18791045

Varian HR, Choi H. Predicting the Present with Google Trends. SSRN Electron J. Published online April 2, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1659302

Basudan AM. Breast Cancer Incidence Patterns in the Saudi Female Population: A 17-Year Retrospective Analysis. Medicina (B Aires). 2022;58(11):1617. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58111617 PMid:36363574 PMCid:PMC9697748

Almoajel A, Alshamrani S, Alyabsi M. The relationship between e-health literacy and breast cancer literacy among Saudi women. Front Public Heal. Published online 2022:791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.841102 PMid:35462821 PMCid:PMC9019219

Al Otaibi Sh, Al Harbi M, Al Kahmoas A, Al Qhatani F, Al Mutairi F, Al Mutairi T, Al Ajmi R, Al Mousawi F. General Breast Cancer Awareness among Women in Riyadh City. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017 Jan 1;18(1):159-163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.1.159. PMID: 28240511; PMCID: PMC5563093.

Qedair JT, Al Qurashi AA, Alfayea T, et al. Level and predictors of breast cancer awareness among Saudi women: A nationwide study. Women's Heal. 2022;18:17455057221133836. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057221133835 PMid:36314716 PMCid:PMC9629712

Downloads

Published

2025-02-01

How to Cite

1.
Ramadan M, Alshekhi W, Aboalola D, Aouabdi S, Alzahrani H, Ashi A, Alsiary R. Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis. Natl J Community Med [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 1 [cited 2025 Feb. 17];16(02):170-6. Available from: https://njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4662

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles