Assessment of the relationship between health anxiety levels and cyberchondria in patients applying to primary health care services

Objective: This study aimed to determine the levels of health anxiety and cyberchondria among individuals aged 18–65 who used the internet and applied to primary health care services in Antalya. Additionally, it sought to examine the relationship between these two variables and contribute to raising awareness and improving coping strategies among individuals. Method: This cross-sectional and correlational study included a total of 267 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through a structured, three-part questionnaire administered via face-to-face interviews. The first part included a sociodemographic data form, the second part consisted of the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), and the third part comprised the Cyberchondria Severity Scale–Short Form (CSS-12). Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. Results: The participants' mean age was 37.56±12.19 years; 53.9% were female, 64% were married, and 61.8% were university graduates. Among the participants, 26.2% had at least one chronic disease, 51.7% had a family history of chronic illness, and 22.1% had a family history of cancer. The mean CSS-12 score was 30.7±8.01 and the mean HAI score was 14.42±7.02. A weak negative correlation was found between age and the "Negative Consequences" subscale of HAI (r=-0.137; p=0.025). Participants with lower educational levels scored higher in the "Compulsion" subscale of CSS-12 (p=0.010). Those with chronic diseases had significantly higher scores in the "Reassurance" subscale of CSS-12 and both the "Hypersensitivity and Worry" subscale and total score of HAI. HAI scores also increased significantly with the frequency of hospital visits (p<0.001). Gender, marital status, and employment status had no significant effect on cyberchondria or health anxiety. Individuals who first seek information on the internet when faced with health problems exhibit significantly higher levels of cyberchondria and health anxiety. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between HAI and CSS-12 total scores (r=0.386; p<0.001). In regression analysis, the most significant predictors of cyberchondria were HAI "Hypersensitivity and Worry" (β=0.356), "Negative Consequences" (β=0.314), and HAI total score (β=0.392). Factors predicting health anxiety included the presence of chronic illness (β=0.168), family history of cancer (β=0.165), and all CSS-12 subscales (p<0.05). Conclusion and recommendations: The results of this study show that individuals who apply to primary health care services generally have moderate levels of cyberchondria and health anxiety. A significant and positive relationship was found between health anxiety and cyberchondria; particularly, as the level of health anxiety increased, cyberchondria behaviors also increased. Participants with a chronic disease or a family history of cancer were found to have higher levels of health anxiety. Seeking information on the internet also emerged as a determining factor for both constructs. Based on these findings, it is recommended to develop early awareness regarding health anxiety and cyberchondria in primary care, implement psychoeducation programs for at-risk individuals, and promote public strategies to improve health literacy. Keywords: Health anxiety, cyberchondria, primary health care.