Chlorine dioxide: its impact on internet search trends in times of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: the increasing worldwide number of cases of COVID-19 has led to the deterioration of mental health and researches of new treatments; this has resulted in an explosion of keyword searches on Internet. Objective: this research has described the use of Google Trends to measure the search queries in internet for terms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in different regions of Peru as well as its potential to conduct research on health aspects. Method: it was measured the search trends in internet for the term "chlorine dioxide" in the period from June 3 to September 3, 2020. Google trends data were used on a fraction of the keyword searches, and the outcomes were analyzed according to the geographic location and defined period. Results: it was found a higher tendency of searching related terms in Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Argentina, and México. A high positive correlation was found between the level of search in Argentina and the number of COVID-19 cases in this country, unlike Peru, Ecuador and Mexico, where the correlation was very low. Instead, in Bolivia there was a very low negative correlation. Google Trends could also potentially define the appropriate time and location to practice risk communication strategies to affected populations. Conclusions: an appropriate risk communication could help to prevent the excessive information intakes, which often causes concern or panic in different populations.

Keywords

• dióxido de cloro
• google trends
• covid-19
• tendencia
• internet