Actor Charlie Sheen made a shocking reveal about his health when he opened up about his HIV diagnosis on the "Today" show last November. Now, a research team at San Diego State University (SDSU) found that Sheen's reveal had a positive impact on public health in America, reported the Associated Press. In a study published on Monday, researchers announced that in the weeks following Sheen's personal interview, Google saw a spike in HIV-related searches in the United States.
"While no one should be forced to reveal HIV status, Sheen's disclosure may benefit public health by helping many people learn more about HIV infection and prevention," read the report published in JAMA Internal Medicine, obtained by the AP.
Following the "Two and a Half Men" star's announcement on Nov. 17, 2015, HIV-related searches reached close to 3 million, which is highest number on Google since 2004, and 1 million of those searches were related to public health information such as condoms, HIV symptoms and HIV testing.
"Charlie Sheen's disclosure is potentially the most significant domestic HIV prevention event in the last decade," John Ayres, the SDSU research professor who lead the study, told the Huffington Post. "How do we improve and enhance the 'Charlie Sheen effect,' to make it larger?"
"The Charlie Sheen effect" is also known as "the celebrity effect," in which there is a spike in awareness after a well-known figure speaks out about an illness, CNN reported. News anchor Katie Couric encouraged a spike in colon cancer awareness after her live TV colonoscopy in 2000 and Angelina Jolie caused an increase in genetic testing after her 2013 decision to undergo a double mastectomy in order to avoid breast cancer.
During his interview with "Today's" Matt Lauer, Sheen explained that he wanted to come forward after living with HIV for four years to prevent further betrayal and extortion from people who threatened to expose his diagnosis. He also opened up about what it was like to find out his HIV-positive status.
"It's a hard three letters to absorb," Sheen told Lauer. "It's a turning point in one's life."
