The widespread use of the internet has made health information more accessible. However, it has also increased problems such as health anxiety and cyberchondria.
This study aimed to assess cyberchondria levels in allergy and immunology clinic patients and examine the relationship between cyberchondria and health anxiety.
This study was conducted on patients diagnosed with allergic disorders, chronic urticaria, hereditary angioedema (HAE), and primary immunodeficiency (PID). Cyberchondria severity was assessed using the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12), while health anxiety was evaluated using the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI).
A total of 550 patients were included in the study, with 71% of the participants being female. The highest CSS-12 scores were observed in the HAE group (33.5 ±8.8), followed by the PID group (28.4 ±8.6). The allergic disorders group had the lowest level of cyberchondria severity (27.7 ±8.5). According to SHAI scores, PID and HAE groups had the highest values. A significant positive relationship was found between cyberchondria and health anxiety (r(548) = 0.416, p < 0.001).
An increase in cyberchondria raises health anxiety and disease burden among allergy and immunology patients. Therefore, physicians should take this into account when treating these patients.
cyberchondria, health anxiety, allergy, hereditary angioedema, immunodeficiency
