Nutrition Available online 10 January 2021, 111138
DETERMINATION OF INTEREST IN VITAMINS USE IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC USING GOOGLE TRENDS DATA: INFODEMIOLOGY STUDY
Sevim Çimke
Highlights
• Public interest in vitamins can be investigated using Google Trends.
• Interest in vitamins is subject to marked annual variation.
• Covid-19 pandemic increased interest in vitamins.
Aim
The purpose of this study is determination of interest in vitamins use in COVID-19 pandemic usıng google trends data.
Method
Searches were made between 1 January 2016 to 30 Agust 2020. First, the word "vitamin" was searched. In addition, the search words "vitamin", " COVID-19", "immunity" and Vitamin D", "Vitamin C", "Vitamin E", "Vitamin A" were searched comparatively. Search was made Turkish (in Turkey) and English (in world). In addition "vitamin" word was translated into some countries's language and was searched.
Analysis
Relative search volumes (RSVs) obtained in searches are presented with graphics. RSVs, downloaded as .csv were transferred to SPSS statistics program. Descriptive data was given as numbers and percentages. Kruskal Wallis analysis was used to determine the difference of RSVs according to years and seasons. In addition, rising queries related to search words were presented in a table.
Findings
In the study, it was determined that the trend towards vitamins reached 100 RSVs in March 2020, when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Vitamin D and vitamin C was the most frequently searched vitamin type in Turkey and World. It was determined that the searches consisting of a combination of COVID-19 and vitamins were made.
Conclusion
Vitamins attract the public interest globally. Seasonal variation and COVID-19 shape the of vitamins popularity in world and Turkey. The search made of the highest in the autumn and spring seasons, but the highest search related all search terms were determined to be in March 2020. Interest in vitamins has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.