Use of Baidu Index to Track Chinese Online Behavior and Interest in Kidney Stones

Figures & data

Figure 1 Baidu search volume index in China during 2014–2018 for “kidney stones”. The average value of search volume. (A) The overall search trend index. (B) Personal computer search index. (C) Mobile wireless search index.

Figure 2 Baidu Index maps for “kidney stones” by region (A), province (B), and city (C), 2014–2018.

Figure 3 The demographic profiles by age (A) and sex (B).

Figure 4 Baidu search volume index for “kidney stone surgery” (blue line) vs “extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy” (green line). Marked dates January 12, 2018.

Table 1 Categories of Top 10 Search Terms Related to Kidney Stones in the Baidu Index

Rank	Category	Search Terms
1	Diagnosis	“Symptoms of kidney stones”
2	Treatment options	“The best treatment for kidney stones”
3	Diet control	“Diet taboos for kidney stones patients” “Kidney stones diet: 5 permissions and 3 taboos”
4	Etiology	“Kidney stones cause”
5	Concomitant diseases	“Renal cyst” “Hydronephrosis”
6	General	“Stones” “Ureteral stones” “Urinary stones”

Table 2 Top 10 Rapidly Increasing Search Terms Related to Kidney Stones in the Baidu Index

Rank	Search Term
1	How to deal with kidney stones
2	The best treatment for kidney stones
3	Hydronephrosis
4	Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
5	Urinary stones
6	Severity of kidney stones
7	Renal colic
8	Indication of ESWL
9	Urinary tract stones
10	Kidney stones treatment