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Comment on: search traffic for inflatable penile prosthesis increased following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a Google Trends analysis

International Journal of Impotence Research (2024)Cite this article

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A recent study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research (IJIR) by Abou Chawareb et al. [1] examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public interest in inflatable penile prostheses (IPP) through analysis of Google search trends in the United States [1]. The authors utilized Google search data from 2016–2023 to observe trends in interest towards IPP procedures, particularly noting changes during the pandemic. This innovative approach of using publicly available search data provided valuable insights into health-seeking behaviors related to urological procedures, informing both healthcare providers and policymakers.

The study underscored the timeliness and relevance of understanding contemporary trends in medical information seeking, particularly amidst a global health crisis like COVID-19. By focusing on shifts in online search behaviors, the authors offered a real-time perspective on how the pandemic influenced patient engagement with urological care information. Such insights are crucial for adapting healthcare policies and resource allocation strategies to better meet patient needs in the realm of prosthetic urology.

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References

  1. Abou Chawareb E, Nakamura H, Hammad MAM, Miller JA, Lumbiganon S, Azad B, et al. Increased search traffic for inflatable penile prosthesis following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a Google Trends Analysis. Int J Impot Res. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00922-6.

  2. Mangono T, Smittenaar P, Caplan Y, Huang VS, Sutermaster S, Kemp H, et al. Information-seeking patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States: longitudinal analysis of Google Trends Data. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23:e22933 https://doi.org/10.2196/22933.

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  3. Sato K, Mano T, Iwata A, Toda T. Need of care in interpreting Google Trends-based COVID-19 infodemiological study results: potential risk of false-positivity. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021;21:147 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-021-01338-2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Alaeddin Barham & Omer A. Raheem

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  1. Alaeddin Barham
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  2. Omer A. Raheem
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All authors contributed equally to the manuscript. Authors AB and OAR contributed to analyzing data and writing manuscripts and references. Authors AB and OAR contributed and supervised the complete and final version of the manuscript and provided extensive revisions and conclusions.

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Correspondence to Omer A. Raheem.

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Barham, A., Raheem, O.A. Comment on: search traffic for inflatable penile prosthesis increased following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a Google Trends analysis. Int J Impot Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00946-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00946-y

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