Dark side consequences of cyberchondria: an empirical investigation
Aslib Journal of Information Management
; 74(5):801-817, 2022.
Article
in English
| ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2018433
ABSTRACT
Purpose>Cyberchondria refers to the repeated and excessive search for health-related information online, associated with increased health anxiety. This paper utilizes the protection motivation theory to investigate the negative behavioral consequences of cyberchondria that pose health risks to users, such as trust in the physician, propensity to self-medicate, and therapy compliance.Design/methodology/approach>The data for the study were collected from a sample of 317 participants in India using an online survey and form. The analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling.Findings>Cyberchondria negatively affects the trust in physician and positively affects the propensity to self-medicate. Trust in physician negatively affects the propensity to self-medicate and positively affects therapy compliance. Furthermore, trust in physician partially mediates the relationship between cyberchondria and the propensity to self-medicate and completely mediates the relationship between cyberchondria and therapy compliance. Cyberchondria has no direct significant effect on therapy compliance.Research limitations/implications>Researchers need to examine other behavioral or psychological factors affected by the reduced trust in physicians due to cyberchondria.Practical implications>Physicians and health care providers should refocus on patients with cyberchondria and regain their trust through quality interactions and services. Policymakers may consider regulating online health information publication to set the standards of information quality and source. Websites and platforms publishing health information online should distinctly label verified information.Originality/value>This study investigates the damaging effects of cyberchondria's behavioral consequences that pose health risks to users.
Library And Information Sciences; Cyberchondria; Health anxiety; Protection motivation theory; Health information; Information search behavior; Problematic Internet use; Mental well-being; Patients; Health behavior; Internet; Health care policy; Pandemics; Psychological factors; Physicians; Websites; Self-medication; Public health; Information systems; Anxieties; Multivariate statistical analysis; Metacognition; Empirical analysis; Health services utilization; Motivation; Therapy; Coronaviruses; Self esteem; Cognition & reasoning; COVID-19; 62111:Offices of Physicians
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
ProQuest Central
Language:
English
Journal:
Aslib Journal of Information Management
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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