Search Results (73)

Objectives: The rapid digitalization of health communication has made electronic health (e-health) literacy an essential competency, while also increasing concerns about cyberchondria. This descriptive–correlational study examined perceived e-health literacy and cyberchondria among students enrolled in a Faculty of Sports Sciences and evaluated their associations with selected socio-demographic and behavioral factors. Methods: Data were collected between February and May 2025 using a Socio-Demographic Information Form, the e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and the Short-Form Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12). Quantitative data were analyzed using group comparison tests, correlation analyses, effect size estimates, and multivariable linear regression. Results: Students demonstrated eHEALS scores close to the upper end of the possible range, together with considerable cyberchondria severity scores. Cyberchondria severity was positively associated with perceived e-health literacy; this association remained statistically significant but weak after adjustment for daily internet use, gender, age, academic year, and department. Significant differences were also observed according to daily internet use, gender, academic year, and department. Conclusions: These findings highlight the dual role of digital health platforms among students engaged in health- and performance-related fields. Educational interventions should promote critical appraisal of online health information and psychologically safe digital health behaviors. Full article

Background: Recently, artificial intelligence-based tools such as large language models (LLMs) have further transformed health information-seeking practices. This study aimed to assess digital health information-seeking behaviors among healthcare professionals working in İzmir, Türkiye, and to examine individual and environmental factors associated with these behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 healthcare professionals in İzmir. Data were collected using an online questionnaire comprising sociodemographic and health information-seeking items and the eight-item e-health literacy scale (eHEALS). Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used for unadjusted comparisons. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with LLM use, while multivariable linear regression with HC3-robust standard errors was used to identify factors independently associated with e-health literacy. To reduce sparse-data instability, conceptually compatible small categories were collapsed before refitting the multivariable models. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 73.2% of participants reported using LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT) for health-related information seeking. After multivariable adjustment, daily internet use of 3–6 h was associated with higher odds of LLM use compared with ≤3 h/day (adjusted OR = 2.0437, 95% CI: 1.1467–3.6423, p = 0.0153). E-health literacy was not independently associated with LLM use (adjusted OR = 0.9875, 95% CI: 0.9599–1.0158, p = 0.3825). In the e-health literacy model, the combined divorced/widowed group had lower adjusted scores than married participants (B = −4.4087, 95% CI: −7.4003 to −1.4171, p = 0.0039). Uncertainty about institutional scientific database access was also associated with lower e-health literacy (B = −6.1805, 95% CI: −8.9255 to −3.4356, p < 0.0001), whereas often/always reading online health information was associated with higher scores compared with never/rarely reading it (B = 2.6264, 95% CI: 0.5112–4.7416, p = 0.0149). Conclusion: LLM use was common among healthcare professionals, but it was not independently associated with e-health literacy. Patterns of internet use, marital status, institutional database awareness, and frequency of reading online health information showed independent associations with the study outcomes. These findings support targeted digital health and AI-literacy initiatives. Full article

Background: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of acute liver failure worldwide, yet epidemiological data from Central Asia remain scarce. Infodemiology—the study of online health information-seeking behavior—offers a novel approach to population-level health surveillance. Objective: Our aim was to investigate online information-seeking behavior related to DILI, hepatotoxic medications, and dietary supplements among the population of Kazakhstan using Google Trends data over a five-year period. Methods: A quantitative, retrospective, observational infodemiology study was conducted using Google Trends data from Kazakhstan (May 2021–May 2026). A total of 21 search terms were organized into five thematic sets: DILI symptoms, hepatotoxic medications, self-treatment and detoxification, liver-related symptoms, and general medication queries. Sets 1–4 were searched in Russian and Set 5 in Kazakh. Descriptive statistics, the Mann–Kendall trend test, and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis were performed using PAST software version 5. Results: A statistically significant trend was identified for 20 out of 21 search terms (p < 0.05). The majority of terms showed decreasing trends over the study period. In contrast, dietary supplements (BAD) demonstrated the strongest increasing trend (S = +1275, Z = +7.93, p < 0.001). Search interest for the general term “liver” was the highest of all 21 terms (mean RSV 84.30), while specific DILI symptoms such as dark urine (mean 1.28) and skin itching (mean 0.07) showed minimal search activity. Strong positive correlations were found between paracetamol and antibiotic searches (rs = 0.812, p < 0.001), consistent with self-medication patterns. Dietary supplements showed significant negative correlations with all detox-related terms (rs = −0.650, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This is the first infodemiology study on DILI in Central Asia. The significant increase in dietary supplement searches, combined with the low public awareness of specific DILI symptoms, highlights a critical public health concern. These findings underscore the need for enhanced regulation of dietary supplements, targeted public health education, and the integration of digital surveillance tools into pharmacovigilance systems in Kazakhstan. Full article

Background/Objectives: The primary goal of this research was to investigate the relationship between the utilization of social media platforms, its influences on health status perceptions and health information-seeking tendencies of individuals who underwent surgical procedures. Methods: This study was designed and executed utilizing a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The research cohort comprised 376 surgical patients selected from operative clinics who satisfied the specified eligibility requirements for participation. Data collection was carried out through a structured Patient Demographic Questionnaire alongside the Health-Seeking Behavior and Health Perception Scales. For statistical evaluation of the gathered data, descriptive metrics, both parametric and non-parametric analytical techniques, and correlation tracking frameworks were employed. Results: According to the study analysis, participants under the age of 54 achieved significantly higher web-based health information-seeking scores (15.79 ± 5.50) than those in the older demographic group (14.10 ± 5.83; t = 2.886, p < 0.05). In terms of gender variations, female patients demonstrated more prominent scores in both digital and comprehensive health-seeking tasks compared to male counterparts (t = 2.316, t = 2.130; p < 0.05). Academic background elicited significant statistical fluctuations across all sub-dimensions (F = 5.655, F = 7.080, F = 7.690, F = 9.877; p < 0.001), revealing that individuals with only primary school education presented the lowest baseline values. Furthermore, individuals restricting their daily internet exposure to one hour or less demonstrated noticeably lower scores than peers maintaining an extended daily digital presence (F = 4.791, F = 4.232, F = 3.549; p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study found that women and individuals with higher levels of education exhibit more frequent online health-seeking behaviors, which were found to be more prominent among individuals who spend more time online and actively use social media platforms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Large language models have created new pathways for patients to access health information, yet little is known about how the general population uses these conversational artificial intelligence (AI) tools for oral health concerns. This study investigated patterns of AI use as a source of oral health information, the nature of data shared with these systems, users’ perceptions, and the impact on dental care-seeking behavior. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults from Bihor County, Romania, using a structured 16-item online questionnaire distributed via social media, with eligibility restricted to individuals who had previously used conversational AI for oral health information. The final sample comprised 393 valid responses from this self-selected group of users. Fisher’s exact test and Z-tests with Bonferroni correction were applied (α = 0.05). Results: Most participants were female (68.2%), university-educated (52.9%), and lived in an urban setting (88.3%). Significant differences in patterns of AI use for oral health information were identified according to age, sex, and living environment (p < 0.001). Younger participants used AI more frequently, while older individuals perceived the information as less clear. The vast majority used AI for informational or preliminary guidance purposes, with very few treating it as a substitute for professional opinion. A relevant subset shared visual data (intraoral photographs or radiographs) with AI systems, raising data privacy concerns. Rural participants more frequently delayed dental visits and less often discussed AI-derived information with their dentist compared to urban participants. Conclusions: When used by the public as a source of oral health information, AI is increasingly adopted, with adoption shaped by age, sex, and socioeconomic context. These findings concern only this informational use and do not extend to other applications of AI in dentistry, such as diagnostic support, image analysis, or clinical decision-making. Dental professionals should proactively engage patients about their use of AI for oral health information to ensure that digitally obtained content is appropriately contextualized. Full article

The rapid expansion of online health information channels, particularly emerging artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, is transforming how individuals access and evaluate health information. Drawing on an extended Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS), this research examined how different channel types (AI-based, short-video, and text-based) influence online health information-seeking behavior (OHISB) through a pilot validation (N = 258), a cross-sectional survey (Study 1; N = 300), and a between-subjects experiment (Study 2; N = 300). Study 1 tested an extended CMIS model incorporating channel type, source credibility, information credibility, and perceived usefulness, while Study 2 examined the causal effects of channel exposure. Structural equation modeling in Studies 1 and 2 consistently showed that source and information credibility predicted OHISB indirectly through perceived usefulness. AI channels showed no advantage in Study 1, whereas Study 2 found that participants perceived AI sources as more credible and useful, which indirectly predicted stronger intentions for SAMC and information seeking through the credibility–usefulness pathway. This change may reflect methodological differences between self-report recall-based and direct exposure designs, and the public’s growing familiarity with AI technologies. By integrating channel characteristics and credibility perceptions, this study extends the CMIS framework and provides evidence for AI’s enhanced perceived credibility in health information contexts, offering insights for improving AI-driven health communication. Full article

Background: Cyberchondria is characterized by compulsive online health information seeking with additional psychological characteristics of behavioral addictions. Alexithymia, a transdiagnostic factor, is associated with difficulties in recognizing and differentiating emotions from bodily sensations. These characteristics may facilitate cyberchondria as a maladaptive strategy employed to cope with health anxiety. The present scoping review aims to examine the evidence regarding the association between alexithymia and cyberchondria. Methods: The scoping review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search of major databases (i.e., PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and grey literature sources (i.e., ProQuest and Google Scholar) was conducted. Data extraction was centered on the study’s design, the characteristics of the sample, the tools utilized, the primary findings, and other relevant variables. Results: A total of 139 records were identified from the databases, and four studies met the inclusion criteria. An additional study was selected from grey literature. The included studies involved different populations, including healthcare workers, university students, and patients with chronic conditions. Across these populations, a significant association between alexithymia and cyberchondria was consistently reported, considering both total scores and their respective dimensions. Furthermore, alexithymia mediated or moderated the relationship between other psychological factors (e.g., perceived stress, somatosensory amplification) and cyberchondria. Conclusions: The scoping review revealed limited but growing research indicating the potential influence of alexithymia on cyberchondria, with implications for clinical and healthcare contexts. The findings also highlighted gaps in the literature and the need for further research in this area. Full article

Background: Hospital-generated digital health content (HGC) represents an emerging psychosocial influence on young adults’ internalizing trajectories. This study examined how perceived HGC variables may associate with psychological well-being (PWB) through cognitive-behavioral and affective mediators, with neuroticism (NEU) moderating these associations. Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey, 248 Indonesian respondents (born 1997–2012) who regularly consumed HGC completed validated and adapted instruments. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results: Perceptions of HGC function as key social-cognitive correlates of PWB in emerging adults. Perceived scientific reliability (PSR) and peace of mind (PEM) are positively associated with digital health literacy (DHL), cyberchondria resilience (CYR), and emotional regulation strategies (ERS). Conversely, humanizing value (HMV) is linked with a potential “comfort-without-competence” trajectory. The CYR construct emerged as the primary mediating mechanism for PWB, whereas NEU was found to weaken the positive association between DHL and PWB. Conclusion: These results suggest that HGC is associated with enhanced PWB by facilitating information competence, reducing compulsive health-seeking, and supporting emotional regulation, though emotionally warm formats may be linked with lower literacy development. The personality trait NEU selectively moderates cognitive pathways while leaving affective and behavioral pathways intact, suggesting a need for risk-stratified approaches. By providing clinically screened content that integrates cognitive-behavioral scaffolding, healthcare institutions can support early psychological prevention and self-regulation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cyberchondria is the compulsive and repetitive search for health-related information online. Adolescents may be vulnerable to cyberchondria due to extensive Internet use and developing health literacy skills; however, evidence from Italy remains limited. The aim of this study is to examine knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to cyberchondria among Italian adolescents aged 10–19 years and identify the associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional investigation was conducted from January to March 2025 among adolescents in Naples, southern Italy. Data collection relied on a self-administered structured questionnaire, including the Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12 (CSS-12). Two multivariate logistic regression models identified independent predictors of online health information-seeking and high cyberchondria (CSS-12 ≥ 32 points). Results: Among 793 participants (mean age 15.8 ± 2.2 years; 50% female), 59.7% used the Internet to seek health information, and this behavior was independently associated with older age, female gender, lower self-perceived health, chronic conditions, and increasing CSS-12 values. The mean CSS-12 score reached 31.2 ± 8.3, and 53.4% of participants scored ≥ 32 points. Higher cyberchondria was associated with believing that the Internet is useful for health decision-making, needing more information about cyberchondria, needing more information about a health topic, perceiving the Internet as important for health resources, having a father with a high school diploma or less, and having parents without underlying chronic medical conditions. Conclusions: Italian adolescents commonly use the Internet to seek health information, and they present non-negligible cyberchondria levels. This study’s findings emphasize the need for targeted educational interventions promoting safe and critical online health information-seeking behaviors. Full article

Objective: We examined the psychological mechanisms underlying cyberchondria by testing whether rumination mediates the association between intolerance of uncertainty and cyberchondria and whether this indirect effect is moderated by prior medical experiences and perceived access to healthcare. Methods and Measures: A cross-sectional design was employed with a non-clinical sample of 96 Romanian adults. Participants completed validated self-report measures of intolerance of uncertainty (IUS-12), rumination (Ruminative Responses Scale), and cyberchondria (Cyberchondria Severity Scale). Additional items assessed medical history and perceived access to healthcare. Moderated mediation analyses with bootstrapped confidence intervals were conducted, controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables. Results: Higher intolerance of uncertainty was associated with higher cyberchondria both directly and indirectly through rumination, which accounted for more than half of the total effect. The rumination–cyberchondria association, and the indirect effect of IU, were significantly stronger among individuals who had experienced a recent acute medical episode, whereas chronic illness did not significantly moderate this pathway. Cyberchondria levels were lowest among participants reporting very good access to healthcare. Conclusions: Cyberchondria appears to arise from the interaction of intolerance of uncertainty, ruminative thinking, and contextual health experiences. Targeting rumination and uncertainty tolerance may be particularly important following acute medical events. Full article

Background: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among university students in Saudi Arabia; however, help-seeking behaviors remain low despite the availability of mental health services. There is limited evidence regarding students’ intentions to seek help and preferred sources of support, especially formal or informal sources. This study examined help-seeking intentions for mental health problems among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire. Participants were 248 undergraduate students from various Riyadh universities. Help-seeking intentions were assessed using the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire. SPSS software was used to perform independent t-tests to assess differences in preferred sources across demographic groups, and Pearson’s correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships between preferred sources and demographic variables. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine demographic and academic predictors of intentions to seek help from formal and informal sources. Results: Students demonstrated a low overall propensity to seek help. Online sources were the most preferred help-seeking option, followed by mothers, friends, and general physicians, whereas faculty, relatives, and religious persons were the least preferred. Preferred help-seeking sources differed by gender. Seeking help from mental health specialists was positively correlated with age and grade point average. Additionally, the regression analysis for formal help-seeking was significant, explaining 8.4% of the variance, with gender as the only significant predictor. Conclusions: These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to improve students’ help-seeking behaviors. Universities should prioritize mental health literacy initiatives, stigma reduction strategies, and accessible support pathways, particularly by integrating digital and hybrid services and enhancing the role of faculty and institutional support systems in promoting timely and appropriate help-seeking. Full article

Background and Objectives: Cyberchondria (CYB) has been associated with health anxiety and anxiety sensitivity (AS); however, its role in panic disorder (PD) remains unclear. This study aimed to compare CYB and AS levels between patients with PD and healthy controls and to examine their associations with PD severity. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional case–control study included 71 patients with PD and 69 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Participants completed the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). PD severity was assessed using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). Group comparisons were additionally conducted using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: Patients with PD had significantly higher CSS (80.70 ± 22.71 vs. 60.62 ± 17.22) and ASI-3 total scores (35.66 ± 17.87 vs. 12.25 ± 10.18) than healthy controls. In the PD group, CYB was positively correlated with AS (r = 0.38, p < 0.01), whereas no significant association was found between CYB and PD severity (r = 0.09, p > 0.05). AS showed a moderate positive correlation with PD severity (r = 0.46, p < 0.01). In hierarchical regression analyses, CYB did not predict PD severity. Adding AS significantly increased the explained variance; however, in the final model, only general anxiety severity (BAI) remained a significant predictor of PD severity. Conclusions: Patients with PD exhibit elevated levels of CYB and AS, which are positively associated with each other. Nevertheless, PD severity appears to be primarily driven by general anxiety symptoms rather than CYB. These findings suggest that CYB may represent a parallel maladaptive coping behavior rather than a direct determinant of symptom severity, with potential implications for assessment and intervention. Longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify causal relationships. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined associations between maternal misperception and information-seeking opportunities, behaviors, and sources among Japanese mothers of preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among mothers registered with a nationwide research panel. Mothers of children aged 3–5 years were included because, in Japan, this period follows the last early-childhood health checkup at age 3, after which caregivers are required to monitor child growth independently. In total, 1358 mothers were analyzed. Child anthropometric data were reported by mothers with reference to the Maternal and Child Health Handbook or childcare records. These measurements were originally obtained during routine health checkups conducted by healthcare professionals or childcare staff. Body mass index z-scores were categorized as high, middle, or low, and maternal perception as accurate, overestimated, or underestimated. Information-seeking behaviors were assessed using study-specific items informed by prior literature and reviewed by experts to ensure content and face validity. Health literacy was measured using the validated 12-item Japanese Health Literacy Scale, which has demonstrated reliability and validity in previous studies. Multinomial logistic regression was used. Results: Among children with high body size, 150/188 (80.8%) of mothers underestimated body size; among those with low body size, 20/35 (57.1%) overestimated it. In multivariable analyses, use of healthcare providers as an information source was statistically associated with maternal overestimation of child body size. Conclusions: Maternal misperception was common across body size categories. Further research is needed to determine whether support in interpreting objective growth indicators is associated with improved perception accuracy. Full article

Digital technologies such as the Internet, social media, and online games have become integral to an adult’s everyday life, yet their implications for health-related behaviors remain the subject of ongoing debate. While existing research has extensively examined risks and benefits of digital media use, evidence focused specifically on adult populations and on the psychological processes supporting health-oriented engagement remains fragmented. This systematic review with narrative synthesis, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examined peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 involving adults (≥18 years). Searches across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO identified 27 eligible studies addressing spontaneous use of the Internet, social media, or online games in relation to actual health behaviors. Across studies, a consistent pattern emerged in which self-efficacy, health literacy, motivation, risk perception, and perceived social support were associated with the adoption of health-related behaviors, particularly physical activity, preventive practices, healthy eating, and health information seeking. However, the literature was characterized by a predominance of cross-sectional designs, a strong geographical concentration in East Asian contexts, and a marked imbalance across digital environments, with social media and informational Internet use being far more frequently studied than online games. Overall, the findings suggest that digital technologies are neither inherently beneficial nor harmful for adult health; rather, their effects depend on users’ psychological competencies and modes of engagement. By synthesizing evidence across digital contexts, this review proposes a competence-oriented framework that helps explain how everyday digital media use may translate into health-promoting behaviors in adulthood, while also highlighting critical gaps that future longitudinal, cross-cultural, and gaming-focused research should address. Full article

Agricultural producers experience elevated stress, limited mental health access, and cultural norms that can discourage help-seeking. This study examined farmers’ preferences for receiving mental health information and the barriers that impede care. Data came from a regional needs assessment of 1024 producers across 12 Midwestern states who completed online or paper surveys, including questions on willingness to seek or receive information and the 30-item Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation. Analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate methods to explore demographic and behavioral predictors. Results indicated that while 74.1% were open to receiving mental health information, notable proportions were unwilling to seek (27.8%) or receive (28.4%) it, and 18.7% were unwilling to do either. Preferred sources were medical providers, mental health professionals, and family members, with agricultural retailers least favored. Women, younger producers, veterans, those with mental health symptoms, and individuals with higher education, anxiety, or depression showed distinct patterns of openness and barrier endorsement. Attitudinal barriers were the most common across groups. Findings highlight the importance of culturally relevant approaches that leverage trusted messengers, reduce stigma, and tailor interventions to specific subgroups to strengthen mental health outreach in agricultural communities. Full article