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

  • 0Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. eaboucha@hs.uci.edu.
International Journal of Impotence Research +

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May 30, 2024

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May 30, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Search trends for inflatable penile implants increased during COVID-19. Despite income shifts, interest remained steady across income levels, highlighting the need for equitable healthcare access.

Area Of Science

  • Urology
  • Public Health
  • Digital Health Trends

Background

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered societal behaviors and digital engagement.
  • Understanding shifts in health-related search queries provides insights into public health concerns and healthcare access.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US search trends for inflatable penile implants.
  • To examine the relationship between these search trends and socioeconomic factors like household income.

Main Methods

  • Utilized Google Trends data to track search interest for inflatable penile implants from 2016 to 2023.
  • Correlated search trends with US Census Bureau data on average household income and per capita income.

Main Results

  • Search interest for inflatable penile implants showed a steady increase pre- and post-pandemic.
  • Average household income in high-interest areas decreased post-pandemic ($53,136 to $50,940).
  • Per capita income also decreased slightly in high-interest areas post-pandemic ($35,209 to $34,547).
  • Interest in penile implants remained consistent across lower-income groups before and after the pandemic.

Conclusions

  • The COVID-19 pandemic correlated with increased search interest in inflatable penile implants.
  • Socioeconomic factors, particularly income, did not deter interest in penile implants, even with a decrease in average income in high-search areas.
  • Findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to ensure equitable access to information and healthcare resources for all income levels.