The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Health Perception and Anxiety Level in Pregnant Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Karabuk University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Cyberchondria; Pregnancy

Treatments: Other: Questionnaire and Physical Exam

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07192354

KBUPTherapy

Details and patient eligibility

About

Pregnancy is a unique period in which women require extensive health information both to protect their own health and to prepare for motherhood. The literature indicates that pregnant women most frequently seek information on healthy nutrition, physical activity, fetal development, pregnancy symptoms, childbirth preparation, vaccination, and medication use. Although health professionals are considered reliable sources of information, due to limited accessibility, pregnant women often turn to the internet and social media. This increases the risk of exposure to inaccurate or incomplete information and may sometimes lead to cyberchondria. Moreover, during pregnancy, factors such as educational level, socioeconomic conditions, and family relationships contribute to the frequent occurrence of anxiety disorders, which can negatively affect the mother's quality of life and fetal development. Health perception, on the other hand, is an important concept that shapes individuals' health behaviors and responsibilities. However, studies examining the relationship between cyberchondria, anxiety levels, and health perception in pregnant women are limited. This study aims to reveal the relationship between health information-seeking behaviors, health perception, and anxiety levels in this special population of pregnant women.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must be 18 years or older, pregnant, have access to the internet at any time, and have the ability to use it.
• Must be proficient in Turkish to understand the scales.

Exclusion criteria

• Having a diagnosed psychiatric illness,
• Being a healthcare worker,
• Having cognitive impairment or mental or physical limitations to the extent that they cannot understand questions.