pam med j Pamukkale Medical Journal 1308-0865 Pamukkale University 10.31362/patd.1748720 Brain and Nerve Surgery (Neurosurgery) Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi (Nöroşirurji) Nöroşirürji poliklinik bakımında siberkondrinin etkisi: kesitsel bir çalışma The effect of cyberchondria in neurosurgical outpatient care: a cross-sectional study https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3913-5899 Demirtaş Oğuz Kağan Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Etlik Şehir Hastanesi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8747-2187 Elbır Cagrı Department of Neurosurgery, Etlik City Hospital 01 16 2026 19 1 1 12 07 23 2025 09 17 2025 Copyright © 2008, Pamukkale Medical Journal 2008 Pamukkale Medical Journal

Amaç: Dijital çağ sağlık bilgilerini geniş ölçüde erişilebilir hale getirmiş, ancak aynı zamanda bireylerin semptomları çevrim içi aşırı derecede araştırarak sağlık kaygısını artırdığı siberkondriyi de körüklemiştir. Bu durum, baş ağrısı veya bel ağrısı gibi yaygın şikâyetlerin ciddi rahatsızlıklarla ilişkili olduğu nöroşirürjide kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışma, psikiyatrik öykü, cinsiyet ve sosyoekonomik durumu dikkate alarak siberkondrinin nöroşirürji poliklinik hastaları üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktadır.Gereç ve yöntem: Bu prospektif gözlemsel çalışmaya, üçüncü basamak bir hastanedeki rastgele seçilmiş iki nöroşirürji polikliniğinden 90 yeni hasta dahil edildi. Demografik veriler, tıbbi öykü, önceki sağlık hizmeti etkileşimleri ve çevrim içi araştırma davranışları toplandı. Depresyon Anksiyete Stres Ölçeği (DASS-21), siberkondriyi, depresyonu, anksiyeteyi ve stresi ölçmek için kullanıldı. İstatistiksel analizde ki-kare, Fisher’ın kesin testi ve Spearman korelasyon testleri kullanıldı.Bulgular: 90 hastanın 55’i (%61,1) kadın, 35’i (%38,9) erkekti. Hastaların %40’ı, ziyaretlerinden önce semptomlarını çevrim içi araştırdığını bildirdi. Kadınlar ve psikiyatrik öyküsü olan hastalar, tüm psikolojik ölçümlerde anlamlı derecede daha yüksek puanlar aldı. Ziyaret öncesi internet kullanımı, artmış siberkondri, anksiyete, depresyon ve stres ile korele bulundu. Daha düşük gelirli hastalar daha yüksek siberkondri puanlarına sahipti. Siberkondri, artmış anksiyete ve stres düzeyleriyle güçlü bir şekilde ilişkilendirildi.Sonuç: Siberkondri, nöroşirürji polikliniklerinde sağlık kaygısına önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunarak gereksiz yönlendirmelere yol açmaktadır. Cinsiyet, psikiyatrik öykü ve düşük gelir düzeyleri daha yüksek duyarlılıkla ilişkilidir. Hasta eğitimi, psikolojik destek ve geliştirilmiş doktor-hasta iletişimi, etkisini azaltmaya ve sağlık hizmeti verimliliğini artırmaya yardımcı olabilir.

Purpose: The digital age has made health information widely accessible but also fueled cyberchondria, where individuals excessively search symptoms online, increasing health anxiety. This is critical in neurosurgery, where common complaints like headaches or back pain are linked to serious conditions. This study investigates the impact of cyberchondria on neurosurgical outpatients, considering psychiatric history, gender, and socioeconomic status.Material and methods: This prospective observational study included 90 new patients from two randomly selected neurosurgery clinics at a tertiary care hospital. Data on demographics, medical history, prior healthcare interactions, and online research behaviors were collected. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) measured cyberchondria, depression, anxiety, and stress. Statistical analysis used chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Spearman’s correlation tests.Results: Of 90 patients, 55 (61.1%) were women and 35 (38.9%) were men. Forty percent reported researching symptoms online before their visit. Women and patients with psychiatric history scored significantly higher on all psychological measures. Pre-visit internet use correlated with elevated cyberchondria, anxiety, depression, and stress. Lower-income patients had higher cyberchondria scores. Cyberchondria is strongly correlated with increased anxiety and stress levels.Conclusion: Cyberchondria significantly contributes to health anxiety in neurosurgical clinics, leading to unnecessary referrals. Gender, psychiatric history, and lower income levels are associated with higher susceptibility. Patient education, psychological support, and improved doctor-patient communication may help reduce its impact and enhance healthcare efficiency.

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