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Background: The complexity, high prevalence, and substantial personal and socioeconomic burden collectively render atopic dermatitis (AD) a major public health concern. Using crowdsourced Internet data has the potential to provide unique insights into this concern, as demonstrated by several previous studies. However, a comprehensive comparison across European countries remains lacking. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate AD‐related web searches across Europe to assess spatiotemporal variations and associations between disease‐related and external factors. Methods: AD‐related web search data were extracted for 21 European countries between February 2019 and January 2023. Descriptive analysis and autocorrelation functions were performed to examine spatiotemporal patterns. Correlations (r) were used to evaluate the associations between web searches and disease‐related, socioeconomic and meteorological data. Results: Over 241 million AD‐related web searches were identified, with search volume varying substantially among European countries (p < 0.001) and correlating with AD prevalence and disease burden (both r = 0.51, p = 0.019). Search volume increased between 2019 and 2023 in all countries and seasonally peaked in January and March. Negative correlations with median population age (r = −0.46, p = 0.039), number of general practitioners (r = −0.29, p = 0.226) and specialists (r = −0.27, p = 0.270) were observed. Moderate to strong correlations were found between search volume and cold, humid and windy weather with fewer sunshine hours, while higher online interest typically occurred 1–3 months after such weather conditions. Conclusion: The study highlights the great potential of online crowdsourced data analysis, for example, to investigate the impact of climate change or to identify unmet needs at a population level. Furthermore, the growing online interest in AD and the corresponding seasonal peaks emphasize the necessity of adapting treatment plans, intensifying public health campaigns, and disseminating reliable online information by governments and healthcare providers, especially during these periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are a variety of possible contraceptives available. While medical advice is an important resource for selecting the individual contraceptive, previous research has shown that the Internet has become an increasingly important source of health care information. Objectives: This study aims to identify key trends in contraception-related web searches in Germany and thus allows conclusions about preferences and unmet needs with regard to pregnancy prevention. Design: Longitudinal retrospective study. Methods: Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to identify contraception-related keywords and their search volume in Germany and all federal states between 2018 and 2021. The keywords were categorized based on gender, hormonal/non-hormonal, and different contraceptive methods. Search volume and categories were analyzed for temporal trends, regional differences, and underlying socioeconomic variables. Results: The 1481 contraception-related keywords corresponded to 15,081,760 searches. In total, a 56% increase in searches/100,000 inhabitants was observed. Highest mean search volume was observed in categories "woman," "woman/non-hormonal" and "woman/non-hormonal/barrier," respectively, and in the federal state Hamburg, while the lowest was seen in North Rhine-Westphalia. Conclusion: The increase in search volume reflects a high interest in contraception, particularly in non-hormonal female methods. This stands in contrast to the limited number of effective non-hormonal contraceptives available and points to an unmet need. In addition, the low search volume for male contraceptives demonstrates gender-specific responsibilities regarding family planning in German society. Plain language summary: Analyzing Google search volume to identify preferences and unmet needs in contraception in German society Contraception is a topic that occupies many people in their daily lives. There is a wide range of different contraceptives available. The decision for a particular contraceptive can be made with the help of a consultation with a gynecologist or through other sources, such as the Internet. Research has shown that the Internet has become an important source for obtaining health information. This study aims to identify key trends in contraception-related web searches in Germany and thus allows conclusions about preferences and unmet needs with regard to pregnancy prevention. Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to identify contraception-related keywords and their search volume in Germany and all federal states between 2018 and 2021. The keywords were assigned to different categories based on whether the woman or the man uses the contraceptive, whether the contraceptive methods contain hormones or no hormones, and which exact contraceptive methods are associated with the search term. The search volume was analyzed in terms of trends over time, regional differences in Germany and socioeconomic variables. A 56% increase in searches per 100,000 inhabitants was observed. The highest mean search volume was observed in the category woman, followed by female non-hormonal contraceptives and within that category, the contraceptive method "barrier." The study shows that there is a high interest in contraception, especially in non-hormonal female contraceptives. These results contrast with the limited number of non-hormonal and effective contraceptive methods available. In addition, the low search volume in the category man shows that women are the main responsible party in terms of contraception in German society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Positive health approaches, such as happiness, are largely unexplored in medicine, including dermatology. Taking into consideration the various happiness measures, the aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess this concept using a 1-item heuristic happiness question and its related dimensions (Satisfaction with Life, Positive and Negative Affect, Quality of Life, and Compound Psychological Capital) in outpatients with different skin diseases between December 2019 and June 2020, and to examine the link between these dimensions. Overall, 414 dermatological patients were included: 67 with psoriasis, 84 atopic eczema, 10 mastocytosis, 19 nummular eczema, 84 malignant melanoma and 150 keratinocyte carcinoma. Comparing the skin diseases, differences were observed for heuristic happiness, Positive Affect, and some domains of Quality of Life and Compound Psychological Capital. Analysing the relationship between heuristic happiness and other happiness measures, the data revealed moderate to strong correlations (r=0.30–0.46, p<0.001) and variations in the understanding of happiness between the skin diseases. Overall, the most important facet of happiness was Hope as a domain of Compound Psychological Capital. This study emphasizes the individual definition of heuristic happiness in patients with skin diseases. A 1-item heuristic approach may be a simple and practical method to assess the complexity and individuality of happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder with a high burden of disease. People affected with psoriasis increasingly use the internet for health-related reasons, especially those with younger age, higher education, and higher disease severity. Despite advantages such as enhancing the individuals' knowledge with the use of digital media for health-related issues, disadvantages were also present such as quality control, and variability in the individuals' health information literacy. While patients with psoriasis within medical settings generally trust physicians over digital media, they commonly withhold their web-based research findings from health care providers., Objective: The study aims to (1) identify further factors associated with regular psoriasis-related internet use, (2) rank specific digital media platforms used, and (3) examine digital media within the physician-patient relationship among individuals with and without dermatological treatment., Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among individuals with self-reported psoriasis in Germany between September 2021 and February 2022. Participants were recruited via digital media platforms and in person at a University Hospital Department of Dermatology in southern Germany. The questionnaire asked about demographic and medical information, individual psoriasis-related digital media use, and the impact of digital media on the physician-patient relationship. Data were analyzed descriptively, and logistic regression models were performed to assess the factors associated with regular psoriasis-related internet use., Results: Among 321 individuals with a median age of 53 (IQR 41-61) years (nonnormally distributed; females: 195/321), female sex, shorter disease duration, moderate mental burden of disease, and good self-assessed psoriasis-related knowledge were associated with regular psoriasis-related internet use. Of the 188 participants with a mean age of 51.2 (SD 13.9) years (normally distributed) who used digital media 106 (56.4%) usually searched for information on psoriasis-based websites and 98 (52.1%) on search engines, primarily for obtaining information about the disease and therapy options, while social media were less frequently used (49/188, 26.1%). Nearly two-thirds of internet users (125/188) claimed that their physicians did not recommend digital media platforms. About 44% (82/188) of the individuals reported to seek for additional information due to the insufficient information provided by their physician., Conclusions: This study revealed the importance of digital media in the context of psoriasis, especially among women, individuals with shorter disease duration, and moderate mental disease severity. The lack of physicians' digital media recommendations despite their patients' desire to receive such and being more involved in health-related decisions seems to be a shortcoming within the physician-patient relationships. Physicians should guide their patients on digital media by recommending platforms with evidence-based information, thereby potentially creating an adequate framework for shared decision-making. Future research should focus on strategies to prevent the spread of false information on digital media and address the needs of patients and physicians to enhance health-related digital media offerings., (©Mert Ege Erbas, Stefanie Ziehfreund, Hannah Wecker, Tilo Biedermann, Alexander Zink. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 07.08.2024.)

Background: Wearables have the potential to transform healthcare by enabling early detection and monitoring of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess wearables' acceptance, usage, and reasons for non-use. Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were used to collect data in Germany on wearable ownership, usage behaviour, acceptance of health monitoring, and willingness to share data. Results: Out of 643 respondents, 550 participants provided wearable acceptance data. The average age was 36.6 years, with 51.3% female and 39.6% residing in rural areas. Overall, 33.8% reported wearing a wearable, primarily smartwatches or fitness wristbands. Men (63.3%) and women (57.8%) expressed willingness to wear a sensor for health monitoring, and 61.5% were open to sharing data with healthcare providers. Concerns included data security, privacy, and perceived lack of need. Conclusion: The study highlights the acceptance and potential of wearables, particularly for health monitoring and data sharing with healthcare providers. Addressing data security and privacy concerns could enhance the adoption of innovative wearables, such as implants, for early detection and monitoring of chronic diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The Authors declare no Competing Financial Interests but the following Competing Non-Financial Interests. AZ - Chairman of the Digital Dermatology Working Group, German Society of Dermatology. Development of wearables funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) based on a decision by the German Bundestag. All other Authors have no competing interests.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to fill the gap of evidence-based data by examining the impact of health-related digital media use's impact on the patient-physician relationship and patient journey, with the goal of driving positive changes in office-based dermatological practice., Patients and Methods: German individuals with skin conditions completed a questionnaire assessing health-related digital media use, eHealth literacy, impact of digital media use on the patient-physician relationship and patient journey, and sociodemographic and health characteristics from June to November 2022, followed by descriptive analysis and linear regressions., Results: Overall, 919 participants were analyzed (median age: 47.00, interquartile range [28.00; 61.00] years, female: 53.6%, health-related digital media users: 56.8%). Google and online encyclopedias were commonly used before and after dermatological consultations. Online self-help groups were used by 75% of non-treated participants. Digital media use had no impact on the patient-physician relationship and a positive impact on the patient journey. Positive impacts were associated with higher eHealth literacy, satisfaction with digital media quality, importance of digital media, rural residence, high education, and trust in dermatologists., Conclusions: The potential of health-related digital media in office-based dermatological care necessitates the drive of an evidence-based digital health platform to improve eHealth literacy and satisfaction with the quality of digital media among affected individuals., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft.)