Objective: To determine the relation between cyberchondria and gender, frequency of access to health-related information and level of health concern.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study took place at PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from April to July 2022. Using purposive sampling we selected 169 medical students from Bahria Medical and Dental College who had access to the internet and other means of use but had no currently diagnosed medical condition. We used a demographic sheet and self-reporting Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Shortened Form to collect data. SPSS version 28 was used to analyze the data. Chi square test was used to establish the relation between genders, frequency of access to health-related information and cyberchondria.
Results: A total of 33.1% of the respondents had low levels of cyberchondria, 44.40% had moderate levels, and 22.5% had higher levels. When asked why people use the internet to find health-related information, 44.4% said it's because it's "easy to access," and 45% replied that they “weekly” search health related information. Cyberchondria was shown to be more prevalent in female students than in male students (p=0.04). Health status and the frequency with which people access health-related information were shown to be significantly correlated (p=0.05).
Conclusion: Distress, excessiveness, compulsion, and reassurance seeking behaviors are all associated with cyberchondria. Male students were found to have lower levels of cyberchondria scores as compared to female students. The main reason to use the internet to find health-related information was that it was “easy to access” and the frequency of internet usage to search health related information was found to be directly related to cyberchondria. The only way to combat this is to supervise and control how the internet is used for health information.
Key words: Cyberchondria, worry, medical condition, doctors.
|
