Use of internet search logs to evaluate potential drug adverse events

Internet search logs provide an abundant source of data that can be explored for purposes such as identifying drug exposure-adverse event relationships. The methodology to rigorously conduct such evaluations is not well characterized, and the utility of such analyses is not well defined. In this issue, White and colleagues propose an approach using Internet search logs for this purpose and compare it to parallel analyses conducted using the US Food and Drug Administration's spontaneous reporting database.