Google search applications for risk communication strategies in the management of COVID-19

Authors

Keywords:

COMMUNICATION, RISK, COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, PERU, CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS, CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS.

Abstract

Introduction: search trends are what users show when they search on the Internet for an event, place, person or thing that the whole community is talking about, or that they are starting to talk more and more about and want to know why it is related to a topic or event.

Objective: this study explored the potential use of Google applications to describe the trends in Google searches for terms associated with COVID-19 in Peru.

Methods: Google search results were analyzed according to a geographic location. A relative search volume (RSV or Google Trends Index) is assigned to the keywords (coronavirus, hand-washing and masks), standardizing it from 0 to 100, where 100 represents the largest proportion of the term in a time series. Trends eliminate repeated searches for it.

Results: searches related to COVID-19 and masks in Peru increased rapidly, following announcements of the first case imported from Brazil, and peaked when local cases were reported. The level of interest of each term by departments in Peru was observed, as a result it was found that for the term coronavirus were: Callao, Tacna, Cuzco, Áncash and Lima the ones that searched more and for the term hand-washing were: Huánuco, Cajamarca, San Martín, Puno and Pasco, and the term masks: Tumbes, Amazonas, Moquegua, Lambayeque and Callao.

Conclusion: in response to the pandemic, our results showed that Google Trends could potentially define the right time and location to practice appropriate risk communication strategies for the affected population by the government.

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Author Biographies

Sebastian Iglesias Osores, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Calle Juan XXIII, Lambayeque, Perú.

Biólogo

Johnny Leandro Saavedra Camacho, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Calle Juan XXIII, Lambayeque, Perú

Biólogo

References

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Published

2020-07-31

How to Cite

1.
Iglesias Osores S, Saavedra Camacho JL. Google search applications for risk communication strategies in the management of COVID-19. Rev Ciencias Médicas [Internet]. 2020 Jul. 31 [cited 2025 Sep. 17];24(4):e4479. Available from: https://revcmpinar.sld.cu/index.php/publicaciones/article/view/4479

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 4 (2020)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

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