Leveraging Big Data for Exploring Occupational Diseases-Related Interest at the Level of Scientific Community, Media Coverage and Novel Data Streams: The Example of Silicosis as a Pilot Study.

Nicola Luigi Bragazzi,Alessandra Toletone,Guglielmo Dini,Paolo Durando,Francesco Brigo,Donald R Olson

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166051

Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Alessandra Toletone + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166051

Copy DOI

Abstract

ObjectiveSilicosis is an untreatable but preventable occupational disease, caused by exposure to silica. It can progressively evolve to lung impairment, respiratory failure and death, even after exposure has ceased. However, little is known about occupational diseases-related interest at the level of scientific community, media coverage and web behavior. This article aims at filling in this gap of knowledge, taking the silicosis as a case study.MethodsWe investigated silicosis-related web-activities using Google Trends (GT) for capturing the Internet behavior worldwide in the years 2004–2015. GT-generated data were, then, compared with the silicosis-related scientific production (i.e., PubMed and Google Scholar), the media coverage (i.e., Google news), the Wikipedia traffic (i.e, Wikitrends) and the usage of new media (i.e., YouTube and Twitter).ResultsA peak in silicosis-related web searches was noticed in 2010–2011: interestingly, both scientific articles production and media coverage markedly increased after these years in a statistically significant way. The public interest and the level of the public engagement were witnessed by an increase in likes, comments, hashtags, and re-tweets. However, it was found that only a small fraction of the posted/uploaded material contained accurate scientific information.ConclusionsGT could be useful to assess the reaction of the public and the level of public engagement both to novel risk-factors associated to occupational diseases, and possibly related changes in disease natural history, and to the effectiveness of preventive workplace practices and legislative measures adopted to improve occupational health. Further, occupational clinicians should become aware of the topics most frequently searched by patients and proactively address these concerns during the medical examination. Institutional bodies and organisms should be more present and active in digital tools and media to disseminate and communicate scientifically accurate information. This manuscript should be intended as preliminary, exploratory communication, paving the way for further studies.

Highlights

Silicosis, a form of pneumoconiosis, is an untreatable but preventable occupational fibrotic lung disease.[1,2,3] It is caused by the respiration, deposition and retention of inhalable free crystalline silicon dioxide or silica dust, and, less frequently, silicate mineral dust
We investigated silicosis-related web-activities using Google Trends (GT) for capturing the Internet behavior worldwide in the years 2004–2015
A peak in silicosis-related web searches was noticed in 2010–2011: interestingly, both scientific articles production and media coverage markedly increased after these years in a statistically significant way

Summary

Introduction

A form of pneumoconiosis, is an untreatable but preventable occupational fibrotic lung disease.[1,2,3] It is caused by the respiration, deposition and retention of inhalable free crystalline silicon dioxide or silica dust, and, less frequently, silicate mineral dust. Silicosis can progressively evolve to lung impairment, respiratory failure and death, even after occupational exposure has ceased.[1,2,3]. This process is chronic and may require up to 10 or more years to fully develop; acute or accelerated forms of silicosis may occur, even though less frequently. Some clinically selected patients may be considered eligible for receiving lung transplantation.[1,2,3,4]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion