Aim: The term “cyberchondria” refers to the escalation of health anxiety resulting from repeated online searches for medical information. Identifying the factors that influence cyberchondria may contribute to address its negative impact on the healthcare system and to develop strategies for reducing health-related anxiety in individuals. Therefore, this study aims to examine the severity of cyberchondria and its association with related factors among adult individuals attending the family medicine outpatient clinics of a university. 

Method: This cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in a six-month-period, involving volunteer participants aged 18 and above who visited the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine. Data were collected via a 44-item-questionnaire covering sociodemographic features, medical history, number of hospital visits, communication characteristics with the doctor, and internet and social media use duration, as well as the 12-item Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 25.0 software package.

Results: The study was completed with 323 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The participants had a mean age of 39.8±14.2 years (18-72). Significant correlations were found between participants’ CSS-12 scores and certain demographic and behavioral characteristics. Those who rated their health status as poor, those who visited healthcare facilities more frequently, and those who were unable to communicate adequately with their physicians were found to have higher levels of cyberchondria. Additionally, those who believed that they had an undiagnosed illness and those who requested tests without consulting a physician were found to have statistically significantly higher levels of cyberchondria (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Cyberchondria is a multifaceted public health issue that affects both individual health behaviors and healthcare utilization.Addressing this condition requires comprehensive strategies that enhance digital health literacy, reduce health-related anxiety, and strengthen physician-patient communication. These findings contribute to the development of national-level preventive health policies, particularly for high-risk populations, and highlight the essential role of primary healthcare services in managing this issue.