INTRODUCTION
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in attention to and financial support for dermatology.1,2 Skin conditions now rank as the fourth leading contributor to nonfatal disease burden globally, as measured by disability-adjusted life years.3 Dermatologists play a key role in identifying skin conditions that serve as early indicators of serious health conditions, and are crucial in enhancing the quality of life for patients by addressing the multisystem impacts of various dermatological conditions.3,4
Among 84.5 million Americans, a quarter of whom were affected by skin disease, the burden of dermatological conditions on the United States (US) healthcare system incurred $75 billion in 2013, encompassing medical, preventative, prescription, and non-prescription costs.5 According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the number of US. dermatologists has shown a gradual increase over the past decade, reaching 12,516 in 2019, reflecting an average annual growth of 1.6% since 2010.2 Yet, the gap between urban and rural areas has widened, with an overall density slightly below the suggested 4.0 per 100,000 population to meet demand adequately.2,6,7 Despite these projections, dermatologists continue to be unevenly distributed across the US.6,7 Findings reported by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2016 indicated that dermatology is anticipated to be among the medical specialties facing the most significant national deficits by 2025, underscoring the high demand for dermatological care.8
When exploring unmet patient needs, quantifying patient demand is essential for identifying actionable healthcare gaps. Google Trends is a platform that compiles and quantifies Google search data, providing population-level insight into search volumes by time and geography.9 Google Trends has been employed as a proxy to assess patient interest in healthcare services across several medical subspecialties, including orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, and radiology.10–15 In the US, 58% of patients self-refer to physicians, often utilizing online resources to do so.13 Dermatology has been reported to be the most frequently searched medical specialty in the United States, and Google Trends is a powerful tool for estimating patient interest.13
Among 84.5 million Americans, a quarter of whom were affected by skin disease, the burden of dermatological conditions on the United States (US) healthcare system incurred $75 billion in 2013, encompassing medical, preventative, prescription, and non-prescription costs.5 According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the number of US. dermatologists has shown a gradual increase over the past decade, reaching 12,516 in 2019, reflecting an average annual growth of 1.6% since 2010.2 Yet, the gap between urban and rural areas has widened, with an overall density slightly below the suggested 4.0 per 100,000 population to meet demand adequately.2,6,7 Despite these projections, dermatologists continue to be unevenly distributed across the US.6,7 Findings reported by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2016 indicated that dermatology is anticipated to be among the medical specialties facing the most significant national deficits by 2025, underscoring the high demand for dermatological care.8
When exploring unmet patient needs, quantifying patient demand is essential for identifying actionable healthcare gaps. Google Trends is a platform that compiles and quantifies Google search data, providing population-level insight into search volumes by time and geography.9 Google Trends has been employed as a proxy to assess patient interest in healthcare services across several medical subspecialties, including orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, and radiology.10–15 In the US, 58% of patients self-refer to physicians, often utilizing online resources to do so.13 Dermatology has been reported to be the most frequently searched medical specialty in the United States, and Google Trends is a powerful tool for estimating patient interest.13
