Cyberchondria and Health Anxiety in Patients Visiting Hematology Outpatient Clinic: Reflection of Digitalisation

Background: Cyberchondria is characterized by heightened health anxiety resulting from excessive online health information seeking, and studies on this topic in the field of hematology are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of cyberchondria and health anxiety among patients attending the hematology outpatient clinic without a diagnosis of malignancy, and to evaluate the relationship between these two factors. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the hematology outpatient clinic of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University School of Medicine in Rize, Turkey. The 400 patients included in the study were divided into groups according to their reasons for visiting the outpatient clinic: hemoglobin disorders, leukocyte disorders, and platelet disorders. The severity of cyberchondria was assessed using the Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12 (CSS-12), and health anxiety level was assessed using the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). Results: The mean age of the 400 patients (255 female, 145 male) was 37.7 ± 11.2 years (18-60 years). The mean SHAI score for patients was 16.1 ± 6.6, and the mean CSS-12 score was 28.7 ± 7.4. Patients presenting with platelet disorders had the highest SHAI scores (18.4 ± 5.6), followed by patients presenting with leukocyte disorders (16.7 ± 6.4) and hemoglobin disorders (15.5 ± 6.8) (p = 0.009). In terms of CSS-12 scores, the highest values were found in patients presenting with leukocyte disorders (31.8 ± 8.5), followed by platelet disorders (30.1 ± 7.7) and hemoglobin disorders (27.6 ± 6.7) (p < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between health anxiety level and the severity of cyberchondria (r = 0.413, p < 0.001) Conclusions: The positive correlation observed between cyberchondria severity and health anxiety level underscores the need to consider psychological effects in hematology patients. This clinical condition may increase the burden of disease and should not be overlooked by physicians.