Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In the study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between the number of the news on oral and tongue cancers on the internet news sites and Google search volumes of the terms "mouth cancer" and "tongue cancer"; also, it was aimed to determine the contents of the news.

METHODS

Five most visited news websites in Turkey were identified; the news and the dates of the news about the mouth and tongue cancers were recorded. Using Google Trends application, search volume indexes were determined between the date ‘first news on the news websites were published’ and November 2019, for search terms ‘mouth cancer’ and ‘ tongue cancer’. Relationship between average monthly - annual search volume indexes and number of the news were statistically evaluated. Also, contents of the news were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 92 news were identified about mouth cancers. No statistically significant correlation was determined between monthly - annual news count and average search volume indexes. Mouth cancer symptoms were the most frequently observed news content. Forty five news about tongue cancers were identified and the vast majority of the news were tongue cancer cases. Strong positive correlation was determined between annual news counts and annual average search volume indexes.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

There is a relationship between ‘tongue cancer’ search volume indexes and news counts. With the increasing number of news about oropharyngeal cancers in the media, the level of interest and knowledge of the society can be increased.