Trends in Public Search Behavior for Otorhinolaryngology: A Two-Decade Analysis

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) research and medical practice trends.

Background:

• Google Trends offers insights into public interest by analyzing search data from specific regions and time periods.
• Understanding public interest in medical fields is crucial for guiding future research and clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the focus of public interest in otorhinolaryngology (ENT) in Türkiye between 2004 and 2024.
• To identify trends and shifts in interest across ENT subspecialties over a 20-year period.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Google Trends data to examine search interest for otorhinolaryngology (ENT) in Türkiye from 2004 to 2024.
• Identified and analyzed the 70 most searched terms across five ENT subspecialties: otology, rhinology, laryngology, head and neck surgery, and facial plastics.
• Evaluated yearly changes in search rates for individual terms and the proportional interest in each subspecialty.

Main Results:

• Overall search interest in examined ENT terms significantly increased from 2004.
• A notable decrease in search interest for most terms occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021).
• In recent years, otology demonstrated the highest search interest (24.06%), while laryngology showed the lowest (16.86%).

Conclusions:

• Public interest in otorhinolaryngology (ENT) in Türkiye has shown a general upward trend over the past two decades.
• Interest distribution among ENT subspecialties varies, with otology currently being the most searched.
• These insights can inform strategic planning for medical education, public health initiatives, and research priorities in Türkiye.