Association between work-from-home policies and United States public interest in foot surgery conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Google Trends analysis

Background The COVID-19 pandemic, marked by significant lifestyle changes and healthcare-seeking behavior shifts, prompted the implementation of widespread Work from Home (WFH) policies.Objective This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and WFH policies on public interest in foot surgery by using Google Trends searches as a proxy for public interest in the United States.Methods A comprehensive dataset of foot-related orthopaedic terms was compiled using Google Trends data from March 2018 to March 2022 and captured weekly, representing over 200 observations. The dataset was separated into pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Shaprio-Wilk testing demonstrated nonparametric data, so Mann-Whitney U tests with Cohen's d for effect size were calculated between the two subgroups.Results An analysis of 26 terms showed declines in five and increased interest in four. The largest decrease was noted in "bunion," "foot pain," and "foot fracture." Terms that were newly coined during the pandemic, including "COVID toe" and "COVID feet" were significantly increased. The remaining 17 terms showed nonsignificant fluctuations in search interest.Conclusion The decline in search interest for foot-related orthopaedic terms during the COVID-19 pandemic may represent the reduced prioritization of nonurgent conditions in the United States. Healthcare professionals should address this through targeted public health initiatives. In a post-pandemic era, healthcare providers should adapt to shifting patient sentiments, public policies, and patient needs.