Abstract

SANZ-LORENTE, María; SANZ-VALERO, Javier  and  WANDEN-BERGHE, Carmina. Information search and its association to scientific production: the example of syphilis and gonorrhea. Rev. cuba. inf. cienc. salud [online]. 2019, vol.30, n.4  Epub Dec 31, 2019. ISSN 2307-2113.

The purpose of the study was to analyze the association between information search about syphilis and gonorrhea in Google, and the scientific production about these two sexually transmitted infections. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were obtained by direct online consultation of Google Trends and MEDLINE (via PubMed) using the search terms "syphilis" and "gonorrhea". The variables analyzed were relative search volume (RSV), mean monthly RSV (RSVm), references (REF) and mean monthly REF (REFm). The RSVm for the term syphilis showed slight increasing progression and exponential adjustment (R2= 0.05; p= 0.42); while for gonorrhea the RSVm evolution was increasing with linear adjustment (R2= 0.67; p< 0.01). The REFm for the scientific production about syphilis displayed increasing linear adjustment (R2= 0.42; p= 0.01), whereas the REFm for gonorrhea showed increasing exponential adjustment (R2= 0.47; p= 0.01). The association of the RSVm for the term syphilis with its REFm was scant (R= 0.11; p= 0.69), while the term gonorrhea exhibited a significant positive correlation (R= 0.67; p= 0.01). The results obtained were not sufficient to reach a definitive conclusion in response to the aim of the study. From this moment onwards, with greater follow-up, further results may be obtained which will either confirm or disprove the association between information search and scientific production about health topics.

Keywords : Access to information; publications; information management; association; syphilis; gonorrhea.

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