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COVID-19 Related Early Google Search Behavior and Health Communication in the United States: Panel Data Analysis on Health Measures

Binhui Wang, Beiting Liang, Qiuyi Chen, Shu Wang, Siyi Wang, Zhongguo Huang, Yi Long, Qili Wu, Shulin Xu, Pranay Jinna, Fan Yang, Wai-Kit Ming and Qian Liu ()
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Binhui Wang: School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Beiting Liang: College of Economics, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Qiuyi Chen: School of Journalism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Shu Wang: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Siyi Wang: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Zhongguo Huang: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Yi Long: Law School of Artificial Intelligence, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201701, China
Qili Wu: School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University National Media Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Shulin Xu: School of Economic, Guangzhou College of Commerce, Guangzhou 511363, China
Pranay Jinna: School of Business, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Fan Yang: Communication Department, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Wai-Kit Ming: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Qian Liu: School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University National Media Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: The COVID-19 outbreak at the end of December 2019 spread rapidly all around the world. The objective of this study is to investigate and understand the relationship between public health measures and the development of the pandemic through Google search behaviors in the United States. Our collected data includes Google search queries related to COVID-19 from 1 January to 4 April 2020. After using unit root tests (ADF test and PP test) to examine the stationary and a Hausman test to choose a random effect model, a panel data analysis is conducted to investigate the key query terms with the newly added cases. In addition, a full sample regression and two sub-sample regressions are proposed to explain: (1) The changes in COVID-19 cases number are partly related to search variables related to treatments and medical resources, such as ventilators, hospitals, and masks, which correlate positively with the number of new cases. In contrast, regarding public health measures, social distancing, lockdown, stay-at-home, and self-isolation measures were negatively associated with the number of new cases in the US. (2) In mild states, which ranked one to twenty by the average daily new cases from least to most in 50 states, the query terms about public health measures (quarantine, lockdown, and self-isolation) have a significant negative correlation with the number of new cases. However, only the query terms about lockdown and self-isolation are also negatively associated with the number of new cases in serious states (states ranking 31 to 50). Furthermore, public health measures taken by the government during the COVID-19 outbreak are closely related to the situation of controlling the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Google trend; health communication; public health measures; panel data analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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