Digital Health Behavior in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Internet and Social Media Use Patterns

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a prevalent dermatological condition leading to frequent visits to primary care, emergency departments, and dermatology clinics worldwide. Its chronic relapsing nature, accompanied by angioedema, shortness of breath, and intense pruritus, drives patients to seek information and treatment.

This study aimed to investigate CSU patients' Internet usage habits, including their search terms, trusted sources, and whether they share this information with their physicians.

A survey was conducted among 80 patients at a tertiary hospital's urticaria outpatient clinic. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, urticaria activity scores, dermatology life quality indexes, and Internet and social media usage patterns related to CSU.

Of the 80 patients, 73.8% had researched CSU online, with significantly higher usage among younger, single patients with lower educational levels and shorter disease duration. Google was the most used platform (84.7%), followed by Instagram and YouTube (25.4% each). General information about CSU was the primary search term (76.3%). Notably, 21.3% attempted to contact doctors via social media, a behavior less common among patients using omalizumab. Approximately 75% did not share their findings with their physicians. Additionally, 58.8% expressed a desire for dermatologists to provide more online information about CSU.

CSU patients frequently research their condition online but often conceal this from their doctors. Attempts to contact physicians via social media were lower among omalizumab users, possibly due to regular follow-ups. Enhancing dermatological follow-up and online educational resources could improve patient engagement and treatment adherence.