Techno-Hypochondria: A Concept Analysis of Wearable Technology-Induced Health Anxiety Among Healthcare...

Background and Aim: While the proliferation of digital health technologies and wearable devices provides nursing professionals with constant access to biometric data, the pathological reliance on these metrics represents an emerging, yet empirically unexamined, digital anxiety framework. This study aims to theoretically define and systematically analyze this theorized phenomenon-termed "Technohypochondria"-within the context of nursing management and clinical practice. Methods: Utilizing Walker and Avant's eight-stage concept analysis method, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 1240 data sources spanning nursing, management, psychology, and informatics literature were analyzed. Results: Three defining attributes of Technohypochondria emerged inductively from the literature: (1) Biometric data obsession, (2) Digital misinterpretation and catastrophizing, and (3) Need for algorithmic feedback. Unlike the general informational search patterns of cyberchondria, these attributes specifically capture a continuous, device-driven feedback loop. Ownership of wearable technology and inadequate digital health literacy were identified as primary antecedents. The analysis revealed significant managerial consequences, including loss of clinical focus, increased risk of medical errors, and weakened professional autonomy. Conclusions: Technohypochondria operationalizes a specific anxiety framework driven by constant biometric monitoring, conceptually diverging from cyberchondria's focus on online health-information seeking. For nursing managers, addressing the psychological relationship between staff and technology is a strategic necessity for patient safety and workforce productivity. A primary limitation of this study is its theoretical nature; however, this study provides the essential conceptual foundation awaiting future empirical validation and scale development.