Questions and Answers
What is one potential negative impact of excessive online health searches on the patient-physician relationship?
It can cause adversarial interactions and poor communication.
What does the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) measure?
The severity of cyberchondria and provides scores on five subscales.
Which of the following is NOT one of the five subscales of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS)?
Anxiety
According to the passage, what is one area that needs more research regarding cyberchondria?
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What is one recommendation the passage makes for future studies on cyberchondria?
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What is the term 'cyberchondria' referring to?
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Which of the following is NOT associated with cyberchondria?
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What is one of the strategies mentioned for preventing cyberchondria?
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How can cyberchondria impact healthcare utilization?
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What is a potential negative consequence of cyberchondria-induced distress?
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Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a strategy for managing cyberchondria?
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Study Notes
Cyberchondria
The term 'cyberchondria' refers to an excessive and compulsive search for health-related information on the internet, which may lead to increased distress or anxiety about one's health. The concept of cyberchondria is related to health anxiety, problematic Internet use, and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Online Health Research
In recent times, online health research has become increasingly common as people seek reassurance and knowledge about their health conditions. Studies suggest strong relationships between cyberchondria and health anxiety, problematic Internet use, and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Prevention and Management
Preventing cyberchondria involves improving online health information literacy, clarifying expectations about the internet's capabilities, addressing poor coping strategies for information overload, uncertainty, and confusion about trustworthiness of sources, and developing adequate uncertainty management.
Impact on Healthcare Utilization
Cyberchondria has been associated with increased healthcare utilization measured by the number of visits to various healthcare professionals. Some individuals may avoid contact with healthcare professionals due to cyberchondria-induced distress, leading to negative consequences such as failure to seek appropriate healthcare. Additionally, excessive online health search can negatively impact patient-physician relationships, potentially causing adversarial interactions and poor communication.
Assessment Tools for Cyberchondria
Assessment tools for cyberchondria include the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), which measures cyberchondria severity and provides scores on five subscales representing cyberchondria dimensions: compulsion (interference with other activities), distress, excessiveness, reassurance, and mistrust of medical professionals.
While cyberchondria has been linked to several negative outcomes, including functional impairment, altered healthcare utilization patterns, and negative impacts on the patient-physician relationship, more research is needed to fully understand its true costs and societal implications. Future studies should focus on clarifying the conceptual status of cyberchondria, quantifying its impact, and developing evidence-based approaches for prevention and management.
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