Global utilization of online information for substance use disorder: An infodemiological study of Google and Wikipedia from 2004 to 2022
Authors: Alibudbud Rowalt , Cleofas Jerome V. 
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The increasing number of people who use drugs (PWUDs) can be attributed to the rising online sales of drugs and other related substances. Information on drugs and drug markets has also become easily accessible in web‐search engines and social media. Aside from providing direct care, nurses have essential roles in preventing substance use disorder. These roles include health education, liaison, and researcher. Thus, nurses must examine and utilize the Internet, where information and transactions related to these substances are increasing.

Design/Methods

This study utilized an infodemiological design in exploring the worldwide information utilization for substance use disorder. Data were gathered from Google Trends and Wikimedia Pageview. The data included relative search volumes (RSV), top and rising related queries and topics, and Wikipedia page views between 2004 and 2022. After describing the data, autoregressive integrated mean averaging (ARIMA) models were used to predict future utilization of online information from Google and Wikipedia.

Results

Google trends ranked 37 countries based on the search volumes for substance use disorder. Ethiopia, Finland, the United States, Kenya, and Canada have the highest RSVs, while the lowest‐ranked country is Turkey, followed by Mexico, Spain, Japan, and Indonesia. Google searches for substance use disorder‐related information increased by more than 900% between 2004 and 2022. In addition, Wikipedia page views for substance use disorder‐related information increased by almost 200% between 2015 and 2022. Based on the ARIMA models, RSVs and page views are predicted to increase by about 150% and 120% by December 2025. Top and rising search‐related topics and queries revealed that the public increasingly utilized online information to understand specific substances and the possible mental health comorbidities related to substance use disorders. Their recent concerns revolved around diagnostics, specific substances, and specific disorders.

Conclusion

The Internet can be of paradoxical use in substance use disorder. It has been previously reported to be increasingly used in drug trades, contributing to the increasing prevalence of substance use disorder. Likewise, the present study's findings revealed that it is increasingly utilized for substance use disorder‐related information. Thus, nurses and other healthcare professionals should ensure that online information regarding substance use disorders is accurate and up‐to‐date.

Clinical Relevance

Nurse informaticists can form and lead Internet‐ and social‐media‐based health teams that perform national infodemiological investigations to assess online information. In doing so, they can inform, expand, and contextualize ehealth substance use education and strengthen the accessibility and delivery of substance use healthcare. In addition, public health nurses can collaborate to engage patients and communities in identifying harmful substance use disorder information online and creating culturally‐appropriate messages that will correct misinformation and improve ehealth literacy, specifically in substance use disorder.