Analysis of Google Searches in Laryngology: Where Do People Look and Are the Answers They Find Credible?

Patients recently diagnosed with a new medical condition frequently search the internet to learn about their diagnosis. We aimed to identify specific questions people ask regarding common laryngological diagnoses by evaluating "People Also Ask" (PAA) questions generated by Google, search volume of t...

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Publicado en:Journal of Voice Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 1457 - 1463
Autores principales: Lancaster, Benjamin, McClutchy, Courteney, Schieve, Heidi, Ruckart, James D., Ruckart, Kathryn W., Madden, Lyndsay L.
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: Elsevier B.V. Sep2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep2026
      vid: 40
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      pub: Elsevier B.V.
      place: New York, New York
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        10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.04.022
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        atl: Analysis of Google Searches in Laryngology: Where Do People Look and Are the Answers They Find Credible?
      aug:
        au:
          Lancaster, Benjamin
          McClutchy, Courteney
          Schieve, Heidi
          Ruckart, James D.
          Ruckart, Kathryn W.
          Madden, Lyndsay L.
        affil: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
      sug:
        subj:
          Web Search Engines
          Internet Searching
          Laryngeal Diseases
          Information Seeking Behavior
          Human
          Descriptive Research
          World Wide Web
          Zenker Diverticulum
          Vocal Cord Paralysis
          Academic Medical Centers
          Social Media
          Disease Management
      ab: Patients recently diagnosed with a new medical condition frequently search the internet to learn about their diagnosis. We aimed to identify specific questions people ask regarding common laryngological diagnoses by evaluating "People Also Ask" (PAA) questions generated by Google, search volume of these diagnoses, and to determine if the sources accessed were credible. Descriptive study. The terms "subglottic stenosis" (SS), "Zenker's diverticulum" (ZD), "vocal fold paralysis" (VFP), and related terms were entered into Google. PAA questions and associated websites were then extracted using Ahrefs software. Questions were categorized into specific topics. Websites were categorized by type and then assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. A search engine optimization tool was used to determine search volume for individual topics. One hundred and forty-four PAA questions (SS n = 52, ZD n = 49, and VFP n = 43) and their associated websites were extracted. Inquiries were most related to disease etiology (34%), management (27.1%), and signs/symptoms (16.7%). Sources most commonly linked to PAA questions were academic (37.6%), government (25.6%), and commercial (16.2%) websites, while medical practice (7.69%), single surgeon (3.42%), and social media (9.40%) websites were less frequently referenced. JAMA scores were highest for government websites (mean 3.35, standard deviation = 0.54) and lowest for academic websites (mean 0.77, standard deviation = 0.14). The most asked questions regarding SS, ZD, and VFP are related to etiology and management. Academic medical institution websites are most frequently viewed to answer these questions. Therefore, academic laryngological professionals should ensure the information on their websites is current and accurate.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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