Levels of Cyberchondria, Health Anxiety and Internet Addiction in Medical Faculty Students

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In this study, it was aimed to compare the levels of cyberchondria, health anxiety and internet addiction of medical faculty students with other faculty students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 223 students studying at the faculty of medicine and 211 students studying at other faculties were included in the study. Students studying in health-related faculties such as nursing etc. were not included in the study. Socio-demographic data form, Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), and Young Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS) were administered to all participants. RESULTS: The mean age of medical faculty students (21.27±2.27 years) was found to be similar to the mean age of other faculty students (21.38±2.05 years) (p=0.440). HAI mean scores were found to be significantly higher in medical faculty students than in other faculties (p=0.007). YIAS and CSS scores were found to be similar in both groups (respectively; p=0.536, p=0.960). YIAS scores and CSS scores of medical faculty students in pre-clinical classes were higher than those in clinical classes (respectively; p=0.017, p<0.001). As the age increased in all participants, the YIAS scores decreased (r= -0.119, p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: It can be said that health anxiety is higher in medical faculty students. In addition, cyberchondria levels and internet addiction levels are higher in medical school students in pre-clinical classes than in clinical classes. We suggest that the awareness levels of students about health anxiety and cyberchondria should be increased in medical school education, where the knowledge about diseases increases intensively.