# Health Literacy and Sociodemographic Determinants of Cyberchondria: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Outpatients of a University Hospital in Turkey

## TL;DR

This study explores how health literacy and sociodemographic factors influence cyberchondria, or excessive online health anxiety, among hospital outpatients in Turkey.

## Contribution

The study identifies health literacy and perceived health status as key predictors of cyberchondria, with gender differences highlighted.

## Key findings

- Higher health literacy and better perceived health are linked to lower cyberchondria levels.
- Women are more likely to experience higher cyberchondria compared to men.
- Targeted health literacy interventions may reduce cyberchondria, especially among women and those with poor health.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aims to examine the relationship between health literacy, sociodemographic characteristics, and cyberchondria among individuals presenting to a university hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between 12 June and 16 June 2023. Individuals who reported using the internet for health-related information were included. The “Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS)” and the “Health Literacy Scale–Short Form” were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multivariate regression tests with SPSS version 26.0. Results: A total of 965 participants with a mean age of 34.8 ± 11.8 years were included in the study, 55% of whom were female. Female gender (B = 4.095, CI: 1.67 to 6.52, p = 0.001) was significantly associated with higher levels of cyberchondria. In contrast, higher levels of health literacy (B = −0.329, CI: −0.47 to −0.19, p < 0.001) and better perceived health status (B = −3.065, CI: −4.65 to −1.48, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower levels of cyberchondria. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate a significant negative association between health literacy and cyberchondria and highlight the importance of targeted health literacy interventions, particularly for women and individuals reporting poor perceived health. Furthermore, enhancing individuals’ skills in critically evaluating online health information and supporting digital literacy may help address cyberchondria.