Factors Associated with Cyberchondria Severity in Primary Care

Background

Cyberchondria involves repeated online health information searching that exacerbates anxiety, presenting a growing challenge in primary care. This study aims to determine cyberchondria severity and associated factors among individuals aged 18-64 applying to Family Health Centers (FHCs) in two districts with different socioeconomic development levels in Ankara.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 400 patients from FHCs in first-tier (high) and second-tier (low) developed districts. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12, range 12-60), e-Health Literacy Scale (range 8-40), and Health Anxiety Scale (range 0-54). For all scales, higher scores indicate higher levels of the measured construct. Since CSS-12 lacks a cut-off point, the sample’s median score (29) was utilized to categorize high/low severity for logistic regression.

Results

The overall mean CSS-12 score was 28.8±9.4. Cyberchondria severity was significantly higher in the high socioeconomic district compared to the lower one (29.8±8.9 vs. 27.1±10.0, p = 0.007). Cyberchondria positively correlated with health anxiety (r = 0.361) and e-health literacy (r = 0.314). Logistic regression identified e-health literacy (OR = 1.059), health anxiety (OR = 1.097), and post-doctor visit online searching (OR = 2.207) as significant risk factors. Conversely, perceiving general health as “Good/Very Good” was a protective factor (OR = 0.555).

Conclusions

Cyberchondria risk is elevated in socioeconomically developed areas, and is driven by higher e-health literacy, health anxiety, and post-consultation internet searching. To integrate these findings into primary care workflow, family physicians should actively guide patients to reliable digital platforms and address health anxieties during consultations. Enhancing functional e-health literacy alongside emotional coping strategies can mitigate cyberchondria and prevent unnecessary healthcare burden.

Key messages

• Cyberchondria is a growing challenge in primary care, driven by unguided online health searches that exacerbate patient anxiety.

• Enhancing digital health literacy during primary care visits is crucial to mitigate cyberchondria and prevent unnecessary healthcare utilization.