Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis

Background: Breast cancer awareness month (BCAM) strategy has been established in Saudi Arabia to promote national knowledge about Breast Cancer, as the Saudi Cancer Registry annual reports reported that breast cancer has ranked first among other cancerous diseases in women. Early detection and the...

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Main Authors: Majed Ramadan, Walaa Alshekhi, Doaa Aboalola, Siham Aouabdi, Haneen Alzahrani, Abrar Ashi, Rawiah Alsiary
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medsci Publications 2025-02-01
Series:National Journal of Community Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4662
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author Majed Ramadan
Walaa Alshekhi
Doaa Aboalola
Siham Aouabdi
Haneen Alzahrani
Abrar Ashi
Rawiah Alsiary
author_facet Majed Ramadan
Walaa Alshekhi
Doaa Aboalola
Siham Aouabdi
Haneen Alzahrani
Abrar Ashi
Rawiah Alsiary
author_sort Majed Ramadan
collection DOAJ
description Background: Breast cancer awareness month (BCAM) strategy has been established in Saudi Arabia to promote national knowledge about Breast Cancer, as the Saudi Cancer Registry annual reports reported that breast cancer has ranked first among other cancerous diseases in women. Early detection and the treatment in the early stages of the disease will increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients. Many detection techniques have been used for breast cancer. The objectives of this study are to investigate the popular pattern in seeking screening information of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia using Google Trends. Methods: Data from January 2012 to December 2022 were analyzed for "breast cancer" and "Mammogram" searches. A difference-in-differences design compared pre- and post-COVID-19 search volumes. Ethical approval was obtained, and statistical analysis was conducted using SAS. Results: Over a decade, interest in breast cancer and mammograms in Saudi Arabia increased steadily. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant decline in both searches. Breast cancer searches decreased notably post-pandemic (p = 0.007), while mammogram searches declined but not significantly (p = 0.31). Regional disparities in search volumes were observed. Conclusion: Several awareness campaigns especially in the country sides are essential to help increase public awareness and interest.
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issn 0976-3325
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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series National Journal of Community Medicine
spelling doaj-art-4de271802ccc42d2995bf3f83919217a2025-02-06T06:05:17ZengMedsci PublicationsNational Journal of Community Medicine0976-33252229-68162025-02-01160210.55489/njcm.160220254662Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends AnalysisMajed Ramadan0Walaa Alshekhi1Doaa Aboalola2Siham Aouabdi 3Haneen Alzahrani4Abrar Ashi 5Rawiah Alsiary6King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of applied medical science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaKing Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Background: Breast cancer awareness month (BCAM) strategy has been established in Saudi Arabia to promote national knowledge about Breast Cancer, as the Saudi Cancer Registry annual reports reported that breast cancer has ranked first among other cancerous diseases in women. Early detection and the treatment in the early stages of the disease will increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients. Many detection techniques have been used for breast cancer. The objectives of this study are to investigate the popular pattern in seeking screening information of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia using Google Trends. Methods: Data from January 2012 to December 2022 were analyzed for "breast cancer" and "Mammogram" searches. A difference-in-differences design compared pre- and post-COVID-19 search volumes. Ethical approval was obtained, and statistical analysis was conducted using SAS. Results: Over a decade, interest in breast cancer and mammograms in Saudi Arabia increased steadily. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant decline in both searches. Breast cancer searches decreased notably post-pandemic (p = 0.007), while mammogram searches declined but not significantly (p = 0.31). Regional disparities in search volumes were observed. Conclusion: Several awareness campaigns especially in the country sides are essential to help increase public awareness and interest. http://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4662Google trendsBreast cancerPandemicAwarenessPublic interest
spellingShingle Majed Ramadan
Walaa Alshekhi
Doaa Aboalola
Siham Aouabdi
Haneen Alzahrani
Abrar Ashi
Rawiah Alsiary
Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis
National Journal of Community Medicine
Google trends
Breast cancer
Pandemic
Awareness
Public interest
title Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis
title_full Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis
title_short Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Google Trends Analysis
title_sort effectiveness of breast cancer awareness month bcam before and after the covid 19 pandemic google trends analysis
topic Google trends
Breast cancer
Pandemic
Awareness
Public interest
url http://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4662
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