The Relationship Between e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria Severity with Participation in Cervical Cancer Screening

INTRODUCTION: The spread of technology and the internet in society has not only been apparent in the information and communication sectors but has also affected all fields. One of the active areas where the Internet is used is in healthcare. This study aims to investigate the relationship between women's online health information-seeking behavior, e-health literacy levels, and cyberchondria severity levels with cervical cancer screening.
METHODS: This research, conducted using a quantitative correlational screening model and a cross-sectional method, involved face-to-face interviews with 370 women aged 30 to 65, who applied to a gynecology clinic in Ankara City Hospital. A four-part questionnaire was used, which included women's sociodemographic data, questions aimed at understanding online health information-seeking behavior, the e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and the Short Form Version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12).
RESULTS: A low positive correlation was found between participants' e-health literacy and cyberchondria scale scores. However, no significant relationship was observed between online health information-seeking behavior, e-health literacy, cyberchondria severity levels, and participation in screenings.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, it was observed that despite high rates of online health information-seeking behavior among women, it is not sufficient to encourage cervical cancer screenings.