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. 2024 Oct 31:7:e60282.
doi: 10.2196/60282.

US Public Interest in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Following Jimmy Buffett's Death and Implications for Continued Health Advocacy: Infodemiology Study of Google Trends

Macy Haight  1 , Hayden R Jacobs  1 , Sarah K Boltey  1 , Kelly A Murray  2 , Micah Hartwell  3
Affiliations

US Public Interest in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Following Jimmy Buffett's Death and Implications for Continued Health Advocacy: Infodemiology Study of Google Trends

Macy Haight et al. JMIR Dermatol. .

Abstract

Through Jimmy Buffett's unfortunate battle with lymphoma originating from Merkel cell carcinoma and subsequent media coverage of his death, public interest in skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, and the health effects of sunlight exposure increased, as evidenced by our results.

Keywords: Google Trends; USA; United States; cancer; carcinoma; cell carcinoma; infodemiology; infodemiology study; merkel cell carcinoma; skin cancer; sun; sunlight; temporal analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Relative search interest for “skin cancer,” “Merkel cell carcinoma,” and “health effects of sunlight exposure” in the United States by date.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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