ABSTRACT
Background: Since the beginning of the pandemic, everyone has become aware of their health status. The internet has provided access to feed their curiosity. It has made many individuals hypochondriac and anxious. The hypochondria, due to internet search, is known as cyberchondria. Aim and Objective: This study aimed to determine the degree of cyberchondria among medical students using the cyberchondria severity scale (CSS). Materials and Methods: We recruited 763 undergraduate and postgraduate medical students of SCBMCH, Cuttack, for this observational study. We provided them with the printed CSS-15 questionnaire and asked them to fill it out with suitable responses. It had five domains: Excessiveness, distress, compulsion, reassurance, and mistrust. Each of the 15 questions had five options, that is, no way, rarely, sometimes, frequently, and consistently. The responses were ordered from 0 to 4, except for the last domain, where the order was 4–0. We analyzed the collected data using R software (version 4.1.1). Results: Seven hundred and thirty-two (95.94%) participants with a mean age of 22.73 ± 4.84 years completed the survey. Of them, 548 (74.86%) participants were undergraduate students, and 493 (67.35%) were male. Six hundred and ninety-eight (95.36%) participants were affected by excessiveness, 633 (86.48%) by compulsion, 429 (58.61%) by distress, 307 (41.94%) by reassurance, and 186 (25.41%) by mistrust of a medical professional. The excessiveness domain severely affected 54.23% of participants, followed by distress 32.24%, compulsion 27.05%, reassurance 22.27%, and mistrust 15.57%. Conclusion: All the study participants were affected by at least one domain of cyberchondria. It has increased their anxiety.
ABSTRACT
@#The current study investigates the relationship among Cyberchondria severity level, health anxiety and health locus of control as a direct response for COVID-19 anxiety among Arab people in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and the Gulf States. The study employed four main scales; The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Syndrome (CASS), Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS). Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control – Form C (MHLC-C). The study sample consists of 573 respondents from 15 Arab countries; 243 (42.4%) males and 330 (57.6%) females. Results of the study showed that there are no statistically significant differences between the study participants in the study variables; cyberchondria severity levels, health anxiety, and health locus of control during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, findings revealed that cyberchondria severity was positively elated o health anxiety (r=0.14, p.03). The mediation simple model revealed that high levels of COVID-19 anxiety syndrome symptoms lead to increased levels of health anxiety, whereas, COVID-19 anxiety and health anxiety cannot mediate the relationship between cyberchondria and health locus of control. Based on the study results, it is recommended that individuals form different Arab countries differ in their COVID-19 anxiety syndrome symptoms which may lead to heightened levels of internet use to seek health information and health anxiety. Also, individuals are characterized by external locus of control, they view that protection from COVID-19 infection depends mainly on the external health systems and other experienced physicians.
ABSTRACT
Background: The internet is a source of valuable medical information. However, when it is employed as a diagnostic procedure, it has the potential to increase health anxiety among individuals who have no medical knowledge. This is a concerning subject as a large number of people search for health information online. Objectives: The objectives of the study were (i) to estimate the prevalence of cyberchondria among undergraduate medical students. (ii) To assess the factors influencing cyberchondria among undergraduate medical students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences, during June 2018–August 2018. One hundred and thirty-six undergraduate medical students were selected and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A database was created in MS Excel and analysis was done using SPSS software v.20. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were calculated and Chi-square test was used. Results: The prevalence of cyberchondria was found to be 37.5%. Cyberchondria was found to be more among males, study participants belonging to Class I according to the modified B G Prasad classification, those having 24*7 access to internet, those using internet for more than 1 h during the night, and those who were using internet for ≤5 years and for ≤6 h/day. Cyberchondria was significantly associated with the use of internet during the night. Conclusion: Excessive searching for health information online has the potential to spread threat among the people and it may lead to an increase in health anxiety. We can overcome this problem by creating awareness among the general public regarding proper usage of web search engines.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Self-diagnosis usually starts with searchengines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo, which can lead users toconfusing unsubstantiated information and people with urgentsymptoms may not be directed to emergency care. It can alsocreate anxiety and a situation where there is questioning of thetreating physician. In this paper we focus on understandingand evaluating how Internet based search results have affectedpeople’s health opinions and behaviour.Material and methods: An online cross-sectional pilot studywas conducted among 336 individuals. The statistical toolsused to analyse the data was by using Microsoft Excel. Chisquare test was used and p value <0.05 was taken as significant.Results: A significant number of respondents have triedto self-diagnose a perceived illness with a greater averageamongst the medical group and a significant value amongpeople who believed their online diagnosis to be accurate.Searching for health related advice online did make theparticipants feel more anxious with this trend being greater inthe medical population and more polarised within them.Conclusion: Cyberchondria, an adverse effect of thedigital revolution, also has affected the medical system byinterrupting the line of treatment, elevating anxiety levels of theparticipants, undermining the need for emergency care whennecessary and most importantly, taking assistance of symptomchecker sites in lieu of a physician’s advice. In view of this,symptom checker sites should have more accountability byincreasing the involvement of medical professionals.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. Vivimos en un mundo globalizado que se mantiene conectado mediante el internet. Determinar la veracidad de la información que recibimos es difícil, más aún en aquella relacionada con la salud. El internet es una de las fuentes más populares para la búsqueda de información relacionada con la salud y esta conducta se incrementa en el contexto de brotes epidemiológicos. En el contexto de la pandemia actual, se ha encontrado un incremento de ansiedad por temas de salud, siento la principal preocupación el estar infectado por SARS-CoV-2. Estrategia de búsqueda: Se realizó una búsqueda en la base de datos PubMed de todos los artículos publicados hasta el 30 de junio de 2020. La búsqueda de términos incluyo las palabras clave sugeridas por el vocabulario controlado Medical Subjects Headings (MeSH) y conectores. Cibercondria, COVID-19 y Salud Mental: Es crucial el papel de los medios de comunicación, porque podrían inducir ansiedad en la población. La cibercondría implica experimentar ansiedad después de buscar información médica y abordar problemas de salud mediante el internet. Se origina como un comportamiento que busca la sensación de seguridad, sin embargo, tiene un carácter repetitivo y excesivo, lo que conduce a empeorar las preocupaciones. Uno de los riesgos es que los pacientes desarrollen desconfianza hacia el médico y mayor probabilidad de automedicación. La prevalencia de este ente, en nuestro país y en muchos otros es desconocida. En el marco de esta pandemia, es importante que la investigación se enfoque hallar pronto un medicamento eficaz o una vacuna; sin embargo, no debemos ignorar la salud mental de la población, que se ha visto impactada por todos los cambios sociales en nuestras vidas. Conclusiones: La cibercondría es un ente clínico nuevo, que conlleva a la búsqueda excesiva y repetitiva de información sobre temas de salud, en internet; incrementando la ansiedad en las personas. En el contexto de la actual pandemia es necesario evaluar dicho aspecto.
Introduction. We live in a globalized world that is kept connected through the internet. Determining the veracity of the information we receive is difficult, even more so in that related to health. The internet is one of the most popular sources for the search for healthrelated information and this behavior increases in the context of epidemiological outbreaks. In the context of the current pandemic, an increase in anxiety about health issues has been found, the main concern being being infected by SARS-CoV-2. Search strategy: A search was carried out in the PubMed database of all articles published up to June 30, 2020. The search for terms included the keywords suggested by the controlled vocabulary Medical Subjects Headings (MeSH) and connectors. Cyberchondria, COVID-19 and Mental Health: The role of the media is crucial, because it could induce anxiety in the population. Cyberchondria involves experiencing anxiety after searching for medical information and addressing health problems online. It originates as a behavior that seeks the feeling of security, however, it is repetitive and excessive, which leads to worse worries. One of the risks is that patients develop distrust of the doctor and a greater likelihood of self-medication. The prevalence of this entity, in our country and in many others, is unknown. In the context of this pandemic, it is important that research focuses on finding an effective drug or vaccine soon; however, we must not ignore the mental health of the population, which has been impacted by all the social changes in our lives. Conclusions: Cyberchondria is a new clinical entity, which leads to the excessive and repetitive search for information on health issues on the internet; increasing anxiety in people. In the context of the current pandemic, it is necessary to evaluate this aspect.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction: The internet has proven to be a valuable resource for self-care, allowing access to information and promoting interaction between professionals, caregivers, users of health care services and people interested in health information. However, recurring searches are often related to excessive health anxiety and a phenomenon known as cyberchondria can have impacts on physical and mental health. Within this background, a Cyberchondria Severity Scale has been developed to differentiate healthy and unhealthy behavior in internet searches for health information, based on the following criteria: compulsion, distress, excesses, and trust and distrust of health professionals. Objective: To conduct cross-cultural adaptation of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale for Brazilian Portuguese, because of the lack of an appropriate instrument for Brazil. Methods: This study was authorized by the original author of the scale. The process was divided into the following four steps: 1) initial translation, 2) back-translation, 3) development of a synthesized version, and 4) experimental application. Results: Translation into Brazilian Portuguese required some idiomatic expressions to be adapted. In some cases, words were not literally translated from English into Portuguese. Only items 7, 8, 12, 23 and 27 were altered, as a means of both conforming to proper grammar conventions and achieving easy comprehension. The items were rewritten without loss of the original content. Conclusion: This paper presents a translated version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale that has been semantically adapted for the Brazilian population, providing a basis for future studies in this area, which should in turn contribute to improved understanding of the cyberchondria phenomenon in this population.
Resumo Introdução: A internet tem se revelado um recurso valioso para o autocuidado, permitindo o acesso a informações e promovendo a interação entre profissionais, cuidadores, usuários de serviços de saúde e pessoas interessadas em informações sobre saúde. No entanto, pesquisas recorrentes na internet estão frequentemente relacionadas a ansiedade excessiva com saúde, e um fenômeno conhecido como cybercondria pode ocasionar danos à saúde física e mental do indivíduo. Nesse contexto, a Cyberchondria Severity Scale foi desenvolvida para diferenciar o comportamento saudável do não saudável no que diz respeito a pesquisas na internet sobre informações de saúde, com base nos seguintes critérios: compulsão, aflição, excessos e confiança/desconfiança nos profissionais de saúde. Objetivo: Realizar a adaptação transcultural da Cyberchondria Severity Scale para o português brasileiro, em razão da falta de um instrumento adequado para uso no Brasil. Métodos: Este estudo foi autorizado pelo autor original da escala. O processo foi dividido em quatro etapas: 1) tradução inicial, 2) retrotradução, 3) desenvolvimento de uma versão sintética, e 4) aplicação experimental. Resultados: A adaptação para o português do Brasil exigiu algumas correções em expressões idiomáticas. Em alguns casos, as palavras não foram literalmente traduzidas do inglês para o português. Apenas os itens 7, 8, 12, 23 e 27 foram alterados, com o objetivo de seguir as normas gramaticais e favorecer a compreensão. Os itens foram reescritos sem que houvesse perda do conteúdo original. Conclusões: Este trabalho apresenta uma versão traduzida da Cyberchondria Severity Scale que foi adaptada semanticamente para a população brasileira, proporcionando uma base para futuros estudos na área, o que deverá, por sua vez, contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do fenômeno cybercondria nessa população.