Determining the relationship between health literacy, cyberchondria, anxiety, and fear levels among preoperative patients

This study was conducted to determine the health literacy, cyberchondria, anxiety, and surgical fear levels of adult patients before surgery, to evaluate the factors affecting these concepts, and to assess the relationships between them. This descriptive study was carried out with 122 patients scheduled for planned surgery in the surgical wards of Alanya Training and Research Hospital between November 20, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, Health Literacy Scale, Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form, Surgical Fear Scale, and State Anxiety Scale. Data analysis included an independent samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis. As a result of the study, the participants' mean total scores on the Health Literacy Scale, Cyberchondria Severity Scale–Short Form, Surgical Fear Scale, and State Anxiety Scale were 54.35±11.24, 29.61±8.99, 27.84±23.50, and 40.66±11.01, respectively. According to these scores, patients' health literacy levels were above the moderate level, whereas their levels of cyberchondria, surgical fear, and anxiety were below the moderate level. A significant positive correlation was found between health literacy and cyberchondria severity, while significant negative correlations were found between health literacy and surgical fear, as well as between health literacy and anxiety (p<0.05). Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between cyberchondria severity and both surgical fear and anxiety (p<0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between surgical fear and anxiety levels (p<0.05).