The relationship of cyberchondria and health anxiety with COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes and behaviors

The study was conducted to determine the relationship of cyberchondria and health anxiety with COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. The cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban area in Balikesir province between October 2021 and January 2022. The sample size was calculated as a population of 12773 people, 50% prevalence, 5% deviation, 1.5 pattern effect, 95% confidence level, using the OpenEpi program, and 600 people were reached by multi-stage sampling method. The dependent variable of the research is COVID-19 knowledge, attitude and behavior level. T-test, ANOVA (posthoc:Tukey HSD) were used for univariate analyses, and linear regression analysis was used for further analyses. The COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Scale scores of the participants were 80.67±13.14, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale score was 39.55±08.30, and the Health Anxiety Scale score was 12.79±11.96. As a result of the linear regression analysis, the COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Scale scores were in the lower social class (β: -8.983; 95% CI -16.84; -1.12), and those whose general health perception was not good (β:14.798; 95% CI 5.79; 23.80), those who did not take precautions against COVID-19 (β:36,333; 95% CI 17.64; 55.00), those who did not pay attention to hygiene during the COVID-19 process (β:21.147; 95% CI 3.54; 38.75), from transmitting COVID-19 in those who were not worried (β: -9.782; 95% CI -20.60; 1.04), two types (Both Biontech and Sinovac) were not vaccinated for COVID-19 (β:11.183; 95% CI 2.44; 19.92), those with COVID-19 vaccine hesitations ( β:-16.354; 95% CI -25.34,-7.36) was significantly lower in those who did not want to be vaccinated for COVID-19 for religious reasons. In addition, as the number of children (β:-7.015; 95% CI -11.45,-2.57) and health anxiety score decreased (β:-0.317; 95% CI -0.53,-0.09), as the COVID-19 vaccination dose increased (β:- 16,354; 95% CI -25.34, -7.36), COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and behavior scale score increases (Adj. R2=0.504, F=5.063, p=0.000, Durbin-Watson=1.488). In the study, health anxiety and cyberchondria levels were found low; COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior level was found to be high. It is recommended to carry out supportive intervention studies aimed at increasing the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19 and for the disadvantaged groups of the society.