Cyberchondria among information technology professionals of Bhubaneswar by using cyberchondria severity scale (CSS-15).
Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig
; 74(1): 83-91, 2023.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2279947
ABSTRACT
Background:
Internet can act as an excellent resource for gaining valuable health related information. However, excessive online research and investigation about health-related issues may impose a negative impact. The term cyberchondria is used to describe a clinical condition in which frequent internet searches for health-related information leads to exaggerated anxieties about physical well-being.Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of cyberchondria and associated factors among the information technology professionals of Bhubaneswar in India. Materials andmethods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out among 243 software professionals in Bhubaneswar using a previously validated Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-15) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics in terms of number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were presented. Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance was applied to compare the cyberchondria score between two and more than two independent variables respectively.Results:
From 243 individuals 130 (53.5%) were males and 113 (46.5%) were females with mean age 29.82±6.67 years. The prevalence of cyberchondria severity was found to be 46.5%. The mean cyberchondria score of all study subjects was 43.80±10.62. It was significantly higher among those who spend more than 1 hour in the internet during night, feel fear and anxiety in visiting the doctor or dentist, interested in gaining the health-related information from other resources and agreed that gaining health related information has increased after COVID-19 pandemic (pË0.05).Conclusion:
Cyberchondria is a growing issue with regard to mental health in developing countries and has the ability to cause anxiety and distress. Appropriate actions must be taken to prevent it on a societal level.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Information Technology
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Rpzh.2023.0241
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